Programme: Erasmus+
Key Action: Learning Mobility of Individuals
Action Type: Youth mobility
Project number: 2020-1-RO01-KA105-079746
Duration: 2020-2022
Project Description:
The project proposal was created and disseminated by PDV (Asociatia Preocupati de Viitor) from Romania in 2019, resulting in 2020 in a concrete youth initiative financed by the Romanian National Agency. The project idea originates in the experience that PDV previously had in the field of green and ecology education, with extensive expertise of their staff and volunteers. We considered the EP (European Parliament) resolution issued in 2018 on a European strategy for plastics in a circular economy, where the EU countries along with the candidate members are challenged by the degree of receptivity among their populations. As there are multiple differences between the regions of the EU concerning the awareness of waste recycling (EC, Plastic waste and recycling in the EU: facts and figures, 2018), this project’s goal was to reduce the discrepancies in understanding the benefits of separate collection of waste, as a key pillar for a healthy environmental attitude.
This project provided an educational opportunity for 30 young persons from Romania, Turkey, Estonia, Latvia and Bulgaria, connecting the topic of environmental attitude and behavior with the specific needs of their communities and countries. The topic of environmental attitude and behavior is deeply connected to the level of self-inclusion (Fiorillo & Senatore, Self Image and Environmental Attitude and Behavior, 2016). Also, we stressed the importance of an unhealthy attitude concerning the environment issues that can also trigger hostile attitudes towards other persons and communities, fueling the risk of self-exclusion or marginalization of others (Czajkowski et. al, Social norms, morals and self-interest as determinants of pro-environmental behaviours: the case of household recycling, 2015). We developed a working methodology that included research, creativity stimulation, self-introspection, role-playing, trust building and group-cohesion practices.
The objectives achieved in the project were:
- Increased awareness of the connection between selective collection of waste and self-exclusion for 30 participants by the end of the YE. We evaluated this objective through a behavioral questionnaire.
- Developing authentic healthy attitude of selective collection and a deep understanding of its impact on community’s life for the 30 participants, by the end of the YE. It was assessed with an environmental awareness questionnaire.
- Increased visibility of the selective collection of waste in all the participants’ communities, facilitated by all the participants in the YE, by the end of project implementation. Evaluated with an organizational questionnaire and a dissemination checklist.
Lead Partner:
ASOCIATIA PREOCUPATI DE VIITOR- Romania
Project Partners:
Arabisch Deutsches Center für Dialog e. V. - Germany
Planet27 - Estonia
RUJIENAS NOVADA PASVALDIBA - Latvia
SDRUZHENIE EVROPEYSKI PROEKTI V BALGARIA - Bulgaria
Youth Development and Enterprise Association - Türkiye