TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Ilaria Esposito
In this study session youth active in environmental protection discovered together and raise awareness on the necessary knowledge and tools to actively advocate for their rights and involvement in process of creating, implementation and intervention in the field of environmental law.
The study session organised in the European Youth Center Strasbourg aimed to discuss about environmental law and youth participation.
Further, they got to know existing European environmental laws and possible changes which could be brought into it in the nearest perspective.
Several different topics have been addressed during the event – e.g. climate change, biodiversity, nature protection, human right for clean environment. Strong emphasize has also been put on young organizations' involvement in decision making process. Youth active in environmental protection discovered together and raised awareness on the necessary knowledge and tools to actively advocate for their rights and involvement in process of creating, implementation and intervention in the field of environmental law.
Summing up the previous description, we had as general Aim:
To increase the participants' competences in the field of environmental law and to foster organizations' capacity in using that knowledge to advocate for environmental protection.
Objectives:
1.to discover possibilities for youth participation in environmental law matters.
2. to practice law language translation to reality.
3. to discover existing institutions that are concerned with environmental protection and their programs as well as other sources of information.
4.to increase knowledge on existing environmental law in Europe and ways of its implementation.
5.to understand interconnection between Human rights and environment.
6. to share experiences in advocacy for environment.
7.to increase participants' campaigning and communication skills.
8. to strengthen the network and increase its potential as a tool for advocacy, support and advice.
The link between YEE goals and this study session is fervently visible when it came to raising awareness on human rights connected with the environmental protection, to increasing youth participation in environmental law, to creating and implementation process and mostly to improving advocacy skills in the field of environmental protection.
The call was opened for young participants (18-30 - exceptions possible for participants over 30 - few participants were over 30) working or volunteering in youth environmental organisations who were interested in the topic of environmental law and youth participation. The invitatation was for people who had already some experience in the field and were willing to multiply the knowledge gained during the study session.
Participants were from:
Youth and Environment Europe, Czech Republic
Stepanavan Youth Center,
Armenia - OA PTTK,
Poland Environmental Youth Club, Russia
EDEN, Albania
DEM Macedonia
Fältbiologerna, Sweden
EO Rhodope, Bulgaria
Khazer, Armenia
Environmental Center, Albania
Ecocentrum Ricany, Czech Republic
Droni, Georgia
ASA, Georgia
FOJ-Active, Germany
Mine Vaganti, Italy
Kislorod, Latvia
MRUSA, Lithuania
JCI, Lithuania
AYA, Russia
Unesco, Russia
Nuestro Mundo, Greece
Libertas International, Spain
The meeting was structured through a non-formal education approach, the methodology recognised by the European Commission and the Council of Europe as complementary to formal education to develop key competences such as interpersonal and intercultural, social and expression of creativity.
A set of methods has been used to build up the group and facilitate the teamwork, but also to create a safe atmosphere to share opinions, concerns and cultural point of views in order to create creative and innovative proposals for future actions and projects together with the general aspects of environmental protection thinking.
Ice-breakers, energisers.
Inputs from experts.
Simulations, role plays.
Exhibitions.
Living 'scientific' library(ilaria's adaptation of a living library).
Intercultural and experiential learning.
Variety of visuals for thematic input.
focus group.
Brainstorming and discussions both in working groups and in plenary.
Here you can find some shared thoughts about the study session:
‘'Broke the distance between us, helped us discover our strength. A week of knowledge and experience feedback.''
Miltos, from Greece
"This study session was very useful. I learnt from other participants, we shared our experience in a group and it was inspiring for new challenges, I got new ideas."
Teisutis
"This study session offered us an intensive overview of environmental law and how we can be part of this interesting complicated world. We learned a lot during these 8 days, from the organizers, from the experts and from the experiences of each other. Now back home, the fascinating part starts. I can put in action what we learned there."
Lira - Albania
Alongside of that the main outcome was to exert their capacity of transforming frustration into opportunity and what means to be pioneer.
Looking at the links below you will find further information about that.
http://yeenet.eu/index.php/study-session-strasbourg
http://yeenet.eu/index.php/publications/yee-newsletter/686-study-session-strasbourg-the-study-session-on-environmental-law-held-in-the-european-youth-centre-in-strasbourg-france-was-attended-by-29-enthusiastic-and-motivated-environmental-activists-converging-on-the-banks-of-the-river-ill-youth-from-18-differen
I have been invited whether as trainer in environmental education and as expert in environmental law.
I was contacted 1 month before the event and we developed an open discussion on the design of the sessions which were related or not with my expertise.
However, my principal tasks were the following:
to make people understand the interconnection between HR and environment. Especially linking with the inpu of different experts.
INSTITUTIONS/STAKEHOLDERS
I was in charge to showing the existing institutions that are concerned with environmental protection and their programs as well as other sources of information.
EXISTING LAW – HOW THE LAW IS
CREATED
- presenting types of laws
- involving participants in self learning and presenting.
- explaining how a bill becomes a law in the EU and the role of the Environmental council
SIMULATION GAME ON ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
My role here was to give a space to experience what means to be a decision makers and a representative of a country or group of people in the UNFCCC -COP/MOP.
The simulation recreated the UNFCCC environment, showing the complexity of the process, but at the same time to encourage understanding about that and why certain changes in society request time and commitment.
I was providing scientific references in relation to the geo-political momentum, facilitating also debriefings and wrapping up meetings.