SDGs Tackler Toolkit

"<< Background >>The reason why the project was developed is linked to the growing need to engage younger generations, who have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 crisis, as well as a heightened interest in youth and generational development policies. The initiative has been strongly influenced by the Next Generation EU Plan, which has incorporated a dedicated pillar for Youth Policies, and by Ursula Von der Layen's declaration designating 2022 as the European Year of Youth. The context has led the partners to perceive the project as timely and particularly suitable in this situation, offering a unique opportunity for younger generations to acquire tools to understand the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and apply them practically through design. The positive experience gained from the ""Phoenix Factory"" project in Italy has further motivated the consortium to expand and replicate a similar process on a larger scale. The need to be addressed was to create an educational and participatory environment that teaches design methodologies related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the aim of developing a stimulating innovation ecosystem.<< Objectives >>The project focuses on empowering individuals aged 16 to 35 through the SDGs Tackler Youth toolkit, fostering active engagement with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Emphasizing inclusivity, it encourages youth to be proactive contributors, not just recipients.With an innovative and transformative approach, the project provides universally accessible self-learning tools, specifically tailored for the 16 to 35 age group. The SDGs Tackler Youth Toolkit aims to equip individuals with the skills needed to effectively address global challenges. Practically, the initiative involves collecting, organizing, and creating educational materials, emphasizing hands-on learning. It establishes virtual spaces for young people to share ideas, develop design skills, and actively contribute to institutions and social life. The overarching goal is to enhance employment opportunities by instilling planning and creativity skills. In summary, the project comprehensively empowers the youth, aged 16 to 35, fostering inclusivity, innovation, and effective participation in addressing social and sustainable development challenges through accessible learning tools and practical experiences.<< Implementation >>The project followed a structured path to develop and test educational content related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the preparation phase (months 1-18), partners collaborated to establish an Observatory of best practices, creating an ""SDGs Attitude"" Online Matrix, a podcast series, and a website. In month 4, a transnational meeting in Italy outlined the action plan for the SDGs Tackler Youth toolkit. The testing phase (months 18-20) engaged all partners through SDGs Days, a 3-day event experimenting with podcasts as a training academy and generating projects dedicated to the SDGs. The Hacklab phase (months 20-21) allowed for the launch of an online open call for those who wanted to join the projects awarded in the Ambassador event. The final review and delivery of content occurred in month 21, with a multiplier event launching the ""SDGs Ambassador"" initiative. Involving the Italian National Youth Council and the University of Valladolid, the initiative awarded innovative projects with support for incubation, a communication kit, and the title of SDGs Ambassador in Europe. This comprehensive approach facilitated the development of effective educational tools and encouraged active youth participation in the SDGs. << Results >>Tangible results are visible on the platform www.sdgstyt.com, where the entire process of Academy, Network, Incubation, and Application has been realized as an online toolkit. The Podcast Academy serves as the online toolkit for SDGs, dedicated to training on the 2030 Agenda's goals, allowing young listeners to understand how to apply the SDGs to their local contexts. It all starts with an online matrix designed to help young individuals identify which of the 17 goals align with their attitudes. The matrix suggests a goal for the participant to listen to, initiating the design process. After listening to the podcast training, participants can begin their design journey by opening their own idea group in the HackLab, a virtual space where the entire SDGs TYT community can exchange ideas and propose, as well as build, projects. This leads to the Application process, allowing the submission of project proposals to be incubated by partners and/or groups of young people in the community. The project has thus created a virtual space for positive change that is always open, resulting in the implementation of 20 local projects by participating young individuals."