Road map of ecological practices in youth work in rural area and urban suburbs

"<< Background >>The needs addressed by the project are:- the need to develop ""green skills"" in youth work and non-formal education.Our youth workers need sufficient understanding and knowledge of environmental issues. These ""green"" skills range from highly technical and job-specific to ""softer"" skills such as responsible use of resources.Through these skills, our youth workers will contribute to the development of green skills in the sense of softer skills among young people in our communities.- the need for our organizations to build a sustainable ecosystem and a healthy working environment, as well as to increase the awareness of our end users - young people, local communities, stakeholders in the youth sector;- need for shared new knowledge, skills, attitudes and understandings for sustainable ecological development as a tool for inclusion and reaching hard-to-reach young people;- the need for new partnerships and established cooperation between stakeholders to protect the environment and combat climate change at the local level in rural areas and suburbs;- need for created opportunities for partnership at the European level to achieve more comprehensive goals of the organizations through opportunities for strategic partnerships.<< Objectives >>The main objective of the project is to create opportunities for participating organizations and youth workers to implement new environmental practices and support rural and peri-urban youth organizations in their transition to green sustainability.The specific results resulting from the objective are:- Support for youth organizations and communities in rural areas and suburbs towards sustainable ecological development as a measure to reach and include hard-to-reach youth, as well as as a possible measure to overcome some of the negative consequences of COVID-19;- increased capacity of youth workers to implement innovative environmental practices in their online and offline activities;- Ensured effective cooperation between stakeholders in the field of ecology and environmental protection in organizing youth green initiatives in rural areas and suburbs.<< Implementation >>For the reporting period - the first 8 months of the implementation of the project, the following activities were carried out:1. 1st transnational project meeting. The meeting was held online on 26.12.2021 with the participation of all partners.2. 2nd transnational project meeting. The meeting was held in Delchevo, North Macedonia, present in the period 25-27.03.2022 with the participation of all partners;3. Workshop 1. It was organized in Delchevo, North Macedonia, present in the period 11-13.02.2022 with the participation of all partners - the representatives of Bulgaria and North Macedonia took part in person, and from Portugal participated online.4. Workshop 2. It was organized in Setúbal, Portugal, present in the period 17-18.04.2022 with the participation of all partners.5. Workshop 3. It was organized in Pirdop, Bulgaria, present in the period 24-26.06.2022 with the participation of all partners.<< Results >>For the reporting period - the first 8 months of project implementation, the following results were achieved:1. horizontal activities - created transnational partnership and conditions for transition to ""green"" sustainability through implemented green tips, how to make our project more eco-friendly. Created working documents - results dissemination plan, quality plan, environmental policy for our project; online brochures, media publications, social group - https://www.facebook.com/EcoMaping/, Instagram - ecomap_project; website and project logo - https://ecomap.chinstitute.eu/.2. activities transnational partnership meetings - 2 meetings held; discussed issues regarding the implementation of the project;2. workshop 1 - participation of 19 people; shared good environmental practices for youth work; - new environmental practices developed.3. workshop 2 - participation of 21 people; identified 3 key green skills for youth work; shared good environmental practices for youth work;4. workshop 3- participation of more than 50 interested parties in total; over 50 key stakeholders identified; shared good environmental practices for cooperation;Encouraged participation of persons with fewer opportunities."