Earthwise Youth Project Held in Córdoba

The Earthwise Youth project, funded under the Erasmus+ KA152 Youth Exchanges programme and coordinated by Asociación PAFF, was carried out in Córdoba, Spain, between 17 and 24 October 2025. The project, numbered 2025-1-ES02-KA152-YOU-000297448, brought together young people from Spain, Türkiye, Hungary, Lithuania, and Romania.

Asociación PAFF acted as the coordinating organization, while Kültürlerarası İletişim ve Dayanışma Kulübü (Türkiye), Indonéz Kulturális Csoport (Hungary), VsI Jaunimo iniciatyvu kurybines dirbtuves (Lithuania), and Mentors of Unity (Romania) participated as partner organizations. The project involved a total of 25 young participants, with five participants from each country. A significant number of them were young people with fewer opportunities.

The main aim of the project was to increase young people's awareness of environmental issues, recycling, and sustainability while encouraging them to take an active role in promoting environmentally responsible practices. Throughout the project, participants took part in both educational sessions and practical workshops, gaining knowledge about environmental challenges and possible solutions.

The first days of the project focused on team-building and orientation activities, allowing participants to get to know each other and learn more about the project. They also took part in a local clean-up activity around the accommodation area, where recyclable materials were collected and waste separation practices were introduced through hands-on experience.

During the project, participants attended several Recycle Right sessions covering the recycling processes of paper, plastic, glass, organic waste, and electronic waste. These activities helped participants understand the environmental and economic benefits of recycling while encouraging them to adopt more sustainable habits in their daily lives. Special attention was given to composting and the role of organic waste recycling in supporting sustainable agriculture.

Through the Green Sheets in Action activity, participants learned about paper recycling and experienced the process firsthand by producing recycled paper. In the Sustainable Expressions workshops, they transformed recyclable materials into creative artworks, demonstrating how waste materials can be reused in innovative and meaningful ways.

The project also included activities such as Sprout & Spread and ArtCycle Awareness, where participants created awareness-raising materials and explored ways to communicate environmental messages to wider audiences. These activities helped young people develop both environmental awareness and skills related to community engagement.

In addition to the environmental focus, the project promoted intercultural learning through cultural exchange evenings. Participants presented elements of their cultures, including traditions, music, dances, and local food. The Turkish group also introduced aspects of Turkish culture, contributing to mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue among participants.

Throughout the project, participants expanded their knowledge of sustainability, recycling, and environmental responsibility while also improving their communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and intercultural skills. Earthwise Youth provided an opportunity for young people from different countries to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and work together towards a more sustainable future.