CIRCLES Guidelines for Workshops

Aims of the tool

The aim of the tool is to support youth workers in facilitating practical, participatory workshops on circular economy. It helps young people understand key circular economy concepts, explore how they relate to everyday life and local communities, and transform ideas into youth-led community projects. The tool also promotes experiential learning, design thinking, inclusion, creativity and reflection, guiding participants from awareness to concrete local action.

Description of the tool

This learning tool provides practical guidelines for youth workers who want to facilitate workshops on circular economy and community action. It supports a structured but flexible learning process in which young people first explore the basic principles of circular economy, then identify circular and linear practices in their everyday lives and local environments, and finally design their own community-based solutions.

The tool is based on non-formal education, experiential learning, participatory design and design thinking. It includes workshop examples, facilitation guidance, reflection questions, visual tools and project development templates. Activities are designed to be practical, inclusive and adaptable to different groups, including young people with fewer opportunities, different learning styles or additional support needs.

Through the workshops, participants move from learning to action: they analyse real-life challenges, map opportunities in their communities, develop project ideas, test them through simple prototypes and prepare them for implementation.

Learning outcomes

After using this tool, learners will be able to:
- Understand the basic principles of circular economy and explain the difference between linear and circular systems.
- Recognise circular practices in everyday life, neighbourhoods and cities.
- Critically analyse their local environment and identify challenges linked to waste, overconsumption, inefficient systems or lack of reuse and repair options.
- Generate small, realistic and practical ideas for circular improvements in their community.
- Use design thinking tools such as empathy maps, “How might we” questions, brainstorming, impact-feasibility matrices and project canvases.
- Develop youth-led circular economy project ideas based on real community needs.
- Create simple prototypes, collect feedback and improve their ideas before implementation.
- Strengthen teamwork, creativity, critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills.
- Reflect on their own role in creating more sustainable, inclusive and circular communities.