EYES for Climate - Enhancing Youth Engagement Skills for Climate Actions

"<< Background >> The ""EYES for Climate"" project was initiated to address critical gaps in youth engagement with climate action, particularly in marginalized urban areas such as Maribor (Slovenia), Turin (Italy), and Brussels (Belgium). Participating organizations identified the need to foster stronger international partnerships for collaborative projects focused on environmental protection in cities. These organizations also sought to enhance their expertise by testing innovative methodologies like the World Café and digital tools such as Mentimeter. The project aimed to equip youth organizations with tools to engage young people meaningfully in climate action.For the target groups, the project addressed a lack of opportunities for environmental engagement and the pressing need for social inclusion among youth from disadvantaged urban areas. Many young people face limited active citizenship skills, insufficient understanding of climate change effects, and little experience with participatory processes. Their capacity to discuss and find solutions to urban climate vulnerabilities remains underdeveloped.This project would have also enhanced the international and local development of all partners involved.<< Objectives >>The main objective of the ""EYES for Climate"" project is to empower young people to become active participants in mitigating climate change, specifically in marginalized or suburban urban areas. The project aims to facilitate a shift from passive awareness to active engagement in addressing climate-related challenges.The specific objectives are:1) To strengthen the capacity and capabilities of partner organizations, enabling them to effectively engage youth in marginalized and suburban areas.2) To increase youth knowledge and skills concerning the effects of climate change in urban regions by creating a framework for pilot training on environmental topics relevant to these areas.3) To promote the development of innovative neighborhood practices that address the impacts of climate change, fostering community-driven solutions and resilience.<< Implementation >>EYES implemented diverse activities to engage young people and organizations in climate change mitigation, with a focus on marginalized urban areas. These efforts aimed to foster knowledge, practical skills, and community engagement.A 10-module training framework on climate change and urban issues was collaboratively developed by the partners. This resource, designed for long-term use, was made available online to support ongoing education and awareness. To test its effectiveness, pilot training tests were conducted in Italy, Belgium, and Slovenia, engaging 30 participants (10 per country) and equipping them with practical skills to address local climate challenges.Urban Labs brought together 87 participants and stakeholders across the partner countries to analyze local contexts, brainstorm innovative solutions, and design neighborhood practices for climate resilience. Building on these efforts, demonstrative environmental actions engaged 107 participants through activities such as awareness campaigns and urban greening initiatives. These actions allowed participants to apply their skills in practical settings while fostering broader community involvement. << Results >>The EYES for Climate project delivered significant and tangible results, fully achieving its objectives. A comprehensive training format of 10 modules on climate change and urban issues was developed and made available online via the S-Nodi platform, ensuring accessibility and long-term use.The project conducted three pilot programs in Italy, Belgium, and Slovenia, engaging 30 young participants (10 per country) who gained practical skills to address local climate challenges. This was followed by three Urban Labs with 87 participants, where youth analyzed urban contexts, proposed solutions, and designed local actions.In addition, three demonstrative environmental actions were implemented, involving 107 young people in activities such as awareness campaigns and urban greening. These efforts showcased practical applications of acquired skills while fostering broader community engagement.The project also strengthened the capacity of partner organizations, ensuring its replicability. Dissemination efforts included 63 social media posts, 15 articles in the project blog, and 4,885 visualizations. These actions helped promote youth participation and created a replicable model for future projects."