EKO is happy to announce that one more amazing youth exchange has been completed successfully. The project “re-upcycle” united 30 participants from Portugal, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Germany. It was organised by the German organisation Green Muse and took place in GRUNHEIDE (MARK), Germany from 09 to 15 January 2025.
Aims & Objectives of the project
This project aims to raise awareness among young people and local communities about recycling, upcycling, zero waste, repair, and effective waste management. While waste is often seen as garbage, this project highlights its value as a resource for a sustainable future. This initiative empowers participants to explore opportunities within the growing recycling sector, develop entrepreneurial skills, and benefit from new employment prospects.
More specifically, the objectives are:
- Inform youth and local communities about recycling, upcycling, zero waste, and waste management.
- Teach participants creative and practical skills by introducing 3-6 innovative upcycling methods.
- Create simple and actionable steps to encourage community participation in waste recycling.
- Enable youth to identify and separate waste materials while developing educational resources on waste management.
- Raise awareness of waste as a resource and its potential for societal and environmental impact.
- Develop an online web portal to showcase how to reuse, recycle, and upcycle waste, including open-source application videos.
- Use non-formal education methods to promote active participation, EU citizenship values, and intercultural awareness learning.
By achieving these objectives, the project contributes to zero waste goals, promotes sustainability, and aligns with EU recycling and environmental policies.
Workshops & Activities of the project
Through this project, participants explored key environmental challenges, focusing on recycling, upcycling, zero waste, and repair methods while fostering critical thinking and raising awareness about waste as a valuable resource for a sustainable future. They gained hands-on experience with creative upcycling techniques, learned to identify and separate waste, and created educational materials to mobilise their communities. Workshops and cultural nights promoted intercultural understanding, broke prejudices, and fostered cooperation among European countries. An online web portal with open-source tools and videos was developed to encourage broader engagement in re-use and recycling practices. Inclusiveness, equality, and active participation were central to all activities, with participants brainstorming innovative solutions and discussing EU citizenship values. By the project’s end, participants were equipped to challenge stereotypes, advocate for zero waste, and promote sustainability, contributing to the goals of Erasmus+ and EU recycling policies.
It is an amazing opportunity and a great experience for EKO’s team.
George, Chrysoula, Maria, Dimitra, Panos, Evangelia, and Grigoris were the amazing Greek team members whom we want to thank for all their contributions and collaboration throughout the project!
As EKO, we are very grateful for that amazing opportunity given to the Greek team. We thank our German partner Green Muse and the members of the hosting organization for all their hard work and for creating such an impactful project!
Thank you – Ευχαριστούμε – Danke!
