This project was initiated by our colleague Nicoleta Bodiu from Deva who identified the need among the young people she works with to broaden their competencies in the field of environmental protection and sustainability and to develop green attitudes. The same need was identified by our colleague Simó Boglárka from Hungary who after consulting with her youth found out that their biggest concern is the limited opportunities for international activities for the 15-16 age group. While young individuals over 18 years old are more and more preoccupied and involved in environmental actions, among the age category of 15-16 years old the knowledge and understanding over this topic is highly limited. At this age they need additional support so that they can engage in such transnational activities that address topics such ecology, environmental protection, green actions etc.

Considering the above, our Youth Exchange aims to establish a transnational environment where young individuals immerse young participants from RO, and HU into an experiential learning context in their early years of high school get the chance which to delve into the subject develop positive attitudes in the field of environmental protection. This will provide them with an opportunity to cultivate their eco-friendly skills while collaborating with young participants from a different country and have the chance to practice their communication in English. and sustainability and to develop their key competencies. The Youth Exchange will take place in Izvoare, Harghita, Romania between 18-26/10/2023.

O1. Develop knowledge on environmental protection and green attitudes among 40 young individuals aged 15-16 years old from Romania and Hungary, by the end of the mobility;

O2. Empower 40 young individuals to incorporate practical green actions in their lives and become green ambassadors among their peers, by the end of the project.

The activities are rooted in non-formal learning and participatory methods, placing young participants at the heart of the educational process. They actively contribute to program development. The journey begins with groundwork, involving ice-breaking activities and team-building exercises to facilitate collaboration. Together, we establish a framework for the upcoming days. Next, we guide participants in exploring the opportunities offered by Erasmus+ and ESC, acquainting them with the Youthpass Certificate and the 8 key competences. The second block of activities focuses on environmental protection, where participants delve into new concepts, collaborate in teams, and acquire skills for sustainable actions. In the third phase, we address dissemination plans, evaluate the mobility experience and outcomes, and outline future follow-up projects.

Our mobility is correlated with our accreditation Objective 1 that addresses the needs and challenges among young people, as it aims to equip them with valuable skills for their personal and professional development in a European context. This is especially crucial for young individuals coming from small urban and rural backgrounds with limited opportunities. By involving them in cross-border projects alongside peers from various countries, whether more or less privileged, it will create a proper environment for the exchange of opinions and ideas, inspiring them to aim higher and become more aware of European values, ways on benefiting from Erasmus opportunities and developing green attitudes, closely linked with the horizontal priority of environmental protection of the E+ programme and Goal no.10 of Sustainable Green Europe.Our mobility O1 is correlated with our accreditation Objective 1 by creating an immersive nonformal learning experience for youth, especially youth facing fewer opportunities, and by empowering them to explore the possibilities of protecting the environment, becoming more green, discover sustainability and circular economy, and additionally, to increase their awareness with regards to E+ opportunities and the EU Youth Goals.

1.      Intangible: Developed intercultural competences and green attitudes ofand consolidated positive attitudes among the young participants

2.      Tangible: Analog and digital outputs of the mobility: presentations, posters, photos, video, web-page

The YE will enhance our participants' key competences, enabling them to develop a more profound understanding of environmental protection, while learning to challengethe environmental challenges and importance of sustainable societies. This experience is for most of our participants the first intercultural experience and it represents a cornerstone in their preconceived ideas about the other country involved. At the same time, we expect that the young participants will incorporate more green actions into their lives and advocate for environment protection among their peers.educational path. For the first time, our participants will have the chance to exchange thoughts, feelings, opinions and emotions regarding the topic of the project, as well as with regards to their life as young persons. They will share and experience various cultures and contexts which will contribute greatly to their intercultural understanding capabilities.