Eco-Toolbox for Active Youth

"<< Background >>Eco-Toolbox brought together 5 NGOs to address common needs and provided initiatives with the capacity and skills relating to GBL through trained youth workers through GBL processes, increasing the opportunities for young people to learn, with the ultimate aim of their empowerment to tackle environmental issues and climate change achieving sustainability and thus cohesion of society. Through identified evidence from the GBL literature suggested that GBL enhances learning outcomes, and applies to learning psychology. The results provide increased motivation, raised interest in specific topics, multiple representations, an open-ended approach to information, control of own learning processes, and peer collaboration. As part of the project, we created the basics of game development based on our perspective on the causes and effects of global climate change. We addressed the following needs they are facing: lack of understanding of the importance of environmental crisis and climate change adaptation needs; lack of awareness of the urgent need for the active involvement of organizations and youth in actions towards a low-carbon; lack of necessary tools & competencies needed to come up with creative, innovative solutions.<< Objectives >>The project objectives were the creation of:1. The Eco-Toolbox Methodological e-Guide for Young People on Innovative Climate Change Adaptation Techniques provides information on how to adjust to the modern climate change adaptation mindset and how to use it to implement innovative methodological and strategical eco-friendly thinking during youth work (PR1), the Trainers' e-Seminar Curriculum on Environmental Issues (PR2), an ""Eco-Friendly"" Educational Game (PR3) and a ""How to save Planet Earth"" Video Animation (PR4), all interconnected.2. Organisation 5 Multiplier Events (one for each partner) to promote the project, its project results and outcomes among youth workers and youth learners and other stakeholders (organizations involved in climate change and sustainable development, youth organizations, policymakers and reformers, youth workers/trainers/educators working with young people, etc.)3. Learn about GBL as practised in each partner’s country, exchange good practices and experiences, develop common recommendations and guidelines and improve their learning of climate change and use of GBL.<< Implementation >>The activities were the following:TPM- 3 partner meetings were organised in Malta, Greece and Hungary.Multiplier Events 5 (one for each partner) to promote the project, its project results and outcomes among youth workers and youth learners and other stakeholders (organizations involved in climate change and sustainable development, youth organizations, policymakers and reformers, youth workers/trainers/educators working with young people, etc.)<< Results >>1. The Eco-Toolbox Methodological e-Guide for Young People on Innovative Climate Change Adaptation Techniques provides information on how to adjust to the modern climate change adaptation mindset and how to use it to implement innovative methodological and strategical eco-friendly thinking during youth work (PR1), 2. Trainers' e-Seminar Curriculum on Environmental Issues which contains a full suite of modules developed to support youth professionals to build key competences. It will also support youth professionals to work in non-conventional environments and will place a significant emphasis on underpinning their reputation, professionalism and standing even if they work in completely different educational settings.3. Eco-Friendly"" Educational Serious Game. It is considered one of the most efficient and prominent informal educational methods. The main advantage that meets the needs of our target groups is the transfer of knowledge through an enjoyable and informal manner that meets the expectations for playful knowledge. Being an innovative online educational game(Serious Game) to advance the skills, promote and motivate playfully the learners to develop their knowledge, skills, and competences on environmental issues, achieving the greatest positive impact, through the use of an ICT game-based environment. It will give the opportunity among other innovative features to present multimediacontent, simulate processes and structured stories/scenarios (elaborated content appropriate for the game formats and mechanics, mainly contributed by the needs analysis).4. ""How to Save Planet Earth"" Animated Video Series, through these videos we have produced a tool where the role of animation as an effective tool gives a voice to young people in policy debates on environmental issues. The process of animation development and screening is an effective driver for social change and the result used as a medium to promoteyouth participation in public awareness and active citizenship to empower people to engage in environmental governance, including climate change governance."