We for a Sustainable EU

<< Background >>We applied for this project because we deeply care about European citizenship and see the urgent need to support young people in today’s complex world. The rapid development of technology, the growing influence of social media, the pandemic’s aftermath and the threat of conflicts have disrupted human connection and shaken young people’s trust in democratic values and social harmony. We felt it was essential to help them rediscover their role in society by offering opportunities to become active, informed, and empathetic citizens. Our aim was to guide them in understanding societal, environmental, and political issues, and to encourage them to take action based on knowledge and responsibility. Moreover, the partnership was built on previous successful collaborations, where trust, common values and a shared pedagogical vision flourished. Language learning and intercultural communication were also key goals: we wanted students to practice English in real-life contexts and understand its importance for their future. Through Erasmus+, we empowered our youth to connect, engage and grow as European citizens ready to shape a better future<< Objectives >>Our main goal was to raise students’ awareness of what European citizenship truly means and how it connects to their daily lives. In a time when nationalism is on the rise, we wanted students to understand the role of European institutions, the values of democracy, and the importance of unity in addressing global challenges such as climate change, sustainability, and social inequality. We aimed to empower them to see themselves not only as local actors but as active European citizens with the ability to influence change. The project also sought to develop students' critical thinking, especially in identifying fake news, and encourage civic engagement through volunteering and interaction with non-govermental organizations. On a practical level, we focused on improving language skills in English and strengthening soft skills such as communication, autonomy, and open-mindedness. Through international collaboration, students observed and shared models of youth participation and created tools to raise awareness in their own communities. Overall, we wanted them to feel that their voice matters—and to use it.<< Implementation >>We organized mobilities around key universal themes, enabling students to collaborate, reflect, and form their own views. The project began with a Kick-off Meeting in Helsinki (Dec 2023), where responsibilities were shared and synergy created among partners. In Romania (March 2024), students explored youth political activism by visiting the Senate and engaging in European election simulations. In Turkey (April 2024), the focus was on climate awareness, with visits to sustainability hubs and nature sites fostering ecological consciousness. In Italy (Sept 2024), students learned about circular economy through company visits and collaborative creation of an e-magazine on sustainable businesses. In France (Dec 2024), the theme was social issues; students visited NGOs addressing poverty, homelessness, and inequality, and reported their findings through oral presentations and digital magazines. Between mobilities, students prepared by engaging in classroom activities and creating visual materials to share project outcomes with their communities.<< Results >>The concrete outputs of the project include the project website (https://we4eu.webnode.fi/) and a wide range of student-created materials such as videos, presentations and quizzes. Students worked independently at their schools and collaboratively in international teams during mobilities. As a result, they developed a stronger understanding of the EU’s history, values, and institutions, and became more capable of analyzing decision-making processes and addressing topics related to sustainability, economy, and society.In France, students created an e-magazine about their NGO visits and delivered persuasive speeches encouraging volunteerism. As we also had a common twinspace on eTwinning , we kept in touch between the mobilities to create collaborative outputs . For example we organised an online debate about their feelings on European citizenship , we created several videos such as the presentations of our cities, countries and schools.A logo competition was organised and some posters were created to teach the students to use the appropriate digital tools and to develop their creativity without using copyright protected material.