ECO STEP Youth Erasmus Project

Project Title

ECO STEP Youth

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

In the context of environmental and social crisis in Europe, it is crucial to develop social, civic and professional education perspectives for young people in search of meaning in an all-disposable consumer society.

The ECOSTEP Youth project has generated a transnational dynamic driven by groups of young people, taking as a medium “the waste”, innate to all societies, to make them engaged and knowledgeable citizens by bringing shared solutions on common issues. It engaged 13 mixed teams, representing a total of 95 young people from various social and cultural backgrounds, in 5 countries (France, Ireland, Spain, Morocco and Greece), under the expertise of 7 youth oriented partner organizations with an emphasis on pedagogy and innovation :
The promoter ATELIER D’éco SOLIDAIRE France, resource center for creative reuse – PASSEPORT EUROPE France, innovation and valorisation expertise – TRINIJOVE Spain, formal and informal education foundation working in the priority neighborhoods of Barcelona – INTERMEDI@KT Greece, specialists in New Technologies – CRNI Ireland, national network of reuse with 2 of its members ReCREATE (material library dedicated to educational and creative projects) and REDISCOVERY CENTER (center of environmental education with artisan workshops) – AL IKRAM Morocco, association of upcycling leading projects with young people and single-parent families from disadvantaged neighborhoods of Casablanca – FORO TECNICO DE FORMACION Spain, vocational training center.

The learning activity (mobility week) which took place from the 30th of october till the 4th of november 2017 in Bordeaux, was the flagship event in embarking on decisive action for the launch of the projects activities. It was intended for young people selected for their skills to train them on the stakes and objectives of the project. These became ECOSTEP “ambassadors” who in turn recruited and accompanied their own teams in participating in the projects activities (including the design competition and the creation of a WEBdoc).

3 intellectual outputs were produced:
1. A European competition on the theme of upcycling: 13 teams entered the competition. They were accompanied by professionals and were trained during numerous workshop sessions (design research, choice of materials, prototype production, making of final piece, development of videos and presentation documents for teams and end products). Their work has resulted in the creation of unique and creative pieces, made from recycled materials, some of which have been identified by professionals, paving the way for potential commercialization. A wide dissemination via the project portal (https://ecostep-youth.eu) and social networks made it possible to select a national winning team by country, a team rewarded by the public vote, and a laureate at European level via an international jury.
2. A web documentary produced by and for young people, on the theme of the creative and artistic reuse of waste, the “green” and craft trades: an interactive multimedia environment (videos, photos, interviews), a real educational tool enriched by a glossary translated into 5 languages defining essential terms for these topics.
3. Participatory workshops open to the general public were organized by the young people, thus enabling them to get involved in the implementation of a public event. These workshops brought visibility to the project and put into practice the techniques learned. The aim was to make participants aware of more environmentally friendly consumption patterns.

An interdisciplinary approach within the consortium, a strong organisation of the areas of resources, arts and design and the accompaniment of young people ( the projects target audience) made it possible to detail quality productions, reflecting not only the values of the project for the young people but also allowing them to display their sensitivity and creativity on these themes. ECOSTEP Youth has contributed to bringing them new personal and professional skills thus demonstrating the full potential and the added value of this type of innovative educational action for young people, and in particular those in insertion or at risk of social exclusion. Each one, involved in all the phases of the project, is in his or her own way an ambassador of the values carried by the project and they benefited from a rewarding experience, rich in exchanges and learned skills. This in turn helped nurture confidence, self-esteem, awareness of circular economy and openness to new career paths.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 221744 Eur

Project Coordinator

ATELIER D’éco SOLIDAIRE & Country: FR

Project Partners

• Association Al Ikram
• FUNDACIO PRIVADA TRINIJOVE
• PASSEPORT EUROPE
• Community Reuse Network Ireland Company Ltd by Guarantee
• INTERACTIVE MEDIA KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER INTERMEDIAKT
• FORO TECNICO DE FORMACION SL