Become ECOnfident

<< Background >>We have created and solidified the activities of three extracurricular youth clubs in three partner schools of our organizations. The youth club activities are currently based on non-formal education methods, allowing young people with fewer opportunities to develop digital skills, ecological attitudes, and presentation skills. The 15-month collaborative effort of partner organizations and their local partners has built a strong foundation, ensuring that the clubs are now an integral part of the regular extracurricular activities in our partner schools. Our project addressed the real needs of young people, which were discovered through a jointly conducted needs assessment of the local community.<< Objectives >>The project aimed to develop the competencies of young people in the areas of ecology, public presentation of their views, self-presentation, and digital skills. This initiative was a response to identified local needs, precisely determined through the analysis of thematic surveys, interviews, brainstorming, and the use of available regional statistics.Throughout the project implementation, we successfully achieved the following objectives:-Enhancement of ecological competencies: The youth gained a deeper understanding of issues related to environmental protection and sustainable development, enabling them to actively engage in pro-environmental activities.-Strengthening public presentation skills: Project participants acquired the ability to express their views in a persuasive and effective manner, contributing to the development of their communication skills.-Self-presentation: The youth acquired skills in presenting themselves in various contexts, positively influencing their personal and professional development.-Boosting digital skills: In the face of contemporary challenges associated with technology, participants acquired digital skills crucial in today's society.<< Implementation >>International offline activities: International working meeting, International meeting of youth, leaders, and teachers, International evaluation meeting. Local offline activities: Establishment and meetings of extracurricular clubs, ecological study visits, local event promoting project outcomes. International online activities: Monthly youth meetings, working meetings of organization representatives on the ZOOM platform.<< Results >>Three extracurricular clubs have been established in three schools from three different European local communities. The clubs continue to operate even after the completion of the project. The schools remain our partners in subsequent local and international initiatives. The students from these schools are available for long-term collaboration, enabling our actions to be conducted at a deep level and significantly impacting the development of young people who receive numerous opportunities for growth. We have heightened the ecological awareness of young people in our local communities, as well as their self-confidence and digital skills. Our project has become a benchmark for our local and international partners who are currently benefiting from its outcomes.