Eco-Tourism for Social Entrepreneurship Health and Well-Being Among Youth

<< Background >>We applied for this project because we saw that young people, especially in rural areas, often don’t have access to opportunities that connect environmental awareness with real action. Eco-tourism and social entrepreneurship are areas where youth can get involved locally, but they often don’t know where to start or don’t feel these topics are relevant to them.At the same time, youth workers needed better tools to support young people in these areas—something practical, clear, and easy to use. There was a gap between what young people cared about (like climate change or mental well-being) and the concrete ways they could take initiative in their own communities.This project responded to both of those needs: giving young people the knowledge, tools, and inspiration to take action, and equipping youth workers with resources to support them in doing it.<< Objectives >>The goal of the project was to empower young people to take an active role in their communities through eco-tourism, sustainability, and social entrepreneurship—especially in rural areas where opportunities are often more limited.We also wanted to strengthen the capacity of youth workers by giving them practical tools they can use to guide young people through these topics in a meaningful and accessible way.By the end of the project, we aimed to create useful materials, support youth-led action, promote sustainable habits, and encourage a stronger connection between young people and their local environment—all while building long-term cooperation between the partner organisations.<< Implementation >>The project included local and international activities over 18 months. We held three Transnational Project Meetings (Ireland, online, and Portugal) to manage coordination, evaluate progress, and plan next steps.We organised two international training events: LTTA1 in Estonia focused on eco-tourism and sustainability, while LTTA2 in Romania focused on piloting the app and toolkit, and learning about youth entrepreneurship.We created four main outputs: the Eco-Tourism Booklet, the Mobile App with interactive eco-routes, a Toolkit for youth workers, and a public Website. All were developed collaboratively and tested with young people and youth workers.Dissemination activities included social media posts, blog updates, webinars, and small-scale multiplier events in each partner country.<< Results >>The project produced four main outputs:1.An Eco-Tourism Booklet, created with young people, introducing eco-tourism and including local routes in each partner country.2.A Mobile App, featuring interactive maps, eco-routes, and local eco-friendly businesses.3.A Toolkit for Youth Workers, with legal guidance on starting youth-led NGOs and tested non-formal learning methods on eco-entrepreneurship.4.A Project Website, sharing all materials and updates openly.Other results include increased skills and awareness among young people around sustainability, local development, and entrepreneurship. Youth workers also gained tools and experience to support youth-led initiatives. The project strengthened international cooperation and provided resources that remain accessible beyond the project.