GREEN UP
European youth reflecting about the green future of Europe.
CERV ID number: 101053441
In a recent gathering under the auspices of the Greenup Europe project, in collaboration with the Municipality of Halászi, we were honored to welcome partners from six countries to the enchanting region of Szigetköz. This event was a vibrant platform for sharing and learning about exemplary practices in environmental education and volunteering. Our heartfelt gratitude extends to the Szigetköz Natúrpark Association, the PÉLDA Egyesület a Szigetközi Gyermekekért, and the Pisztráng Kör Egyesület for their invaluable contributions that greatly enhanced the event’s success and fostered a warm and collaborative atmosphere.
A highlight of the meeting focused on engaging the youth, with Gál Körmendy inspiring local students to engage in thoughtful discussions about the current state of their community and environment. This session sparked a collective ambition to drive positive change and enhance their surroundings. The culmination of this event was a meaningful collaborative effort, where children and partners joined forces to clean the banks of the Moson-Danube, showcasing the power of community and shared responsibility in environmental stewardship.
We are immensely thankful for the support from the CERV Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme, which was instrumental in making this gathering possible. The active participation of our partners was crucial to the event’s success, highlighting the strength of collaboration across borders to promote sustainability and environmental consciousness. This meeting in Szigetköz stands as a testament to our shared commitment to fostering a greener, more sustainable future through education, volunteering, and community engagement.
The Green Up project’s fourth international meeting recently took place in Messina, weaving together environmental advocacy with a rich tapestry of cultural heritage. Spanning from the 27th to the 28th of June 2023, this assembly brought together participants to engage in discussions on sustainability and explore the intertwining of cultural and environmental narratives.
Day One: Insightful Discussions and Cultural Exploration The proceedings commenced with participants transitioning from the Town Hall to the «Antonello da Messina» Palace of Culture, under the guidance of the Councilor for Youth Policies, Liliana Cannata. Mayor Federico Basile extended a warm welcome, emphasizing the value of Messina’s engagement in European collaborative networks.
A pivotal moment was the introduction of the project’s new partner, the VisitNedMed association from Malta. Antoine Gambin, through a detailed presentation, shed light on their initiatives in Hali Safi, particularly focusing on revitalizing rural traditions while fostering youth engagement in environmental sustainability. This initiative anticipates deeper discussions at the scheduled meeting in Malta in November 2023.
The session also highlighted Messina’s strides toward environmental responsibility, from water conservation efforts led by AMAM to the significant climate change data presented by Giuseppe Cuffaro of the ARPA. Further, Maria Grazia Interdonato showcased Messina’s progress in waste separation, achieving a remarkable recycling rate.
Educational endeavors in local schools were spotlighted by Domenica Lucchesi, showcasing efforts to elevate environmental consciousness among students. The afternoon was marked by a memorable visit to Capo Peloro, offering participants a hands-on experience of traditional fishing methods and a tour of the historic fishing village of Torre Faro.
Day Two: Embracing the Natural World The next day’s journey to the Peloritani Botanical Garden highlighted the preservation efforts for native botanical species and the broader aim of biodiversity conservation. The visit underscored the crucial role of natural spaces in environmental education and sustainability. The exploration continued with a tour of the Messina Cathedral, enriching the participants’ understanding of the city’s cultural and historical depth.
Strategic Coordination and Looking Forward Amidst these cultural and environmental immersions, the meeting also served as a vital platform for strategic discussions about the Green Up project’s trajectory. The confirmation of forthcoming meetings across Europe reaffirmed the collective commitment to driving forward the project’s goals of environmental advocacy and the EU Green Deal.
As the Messina meeting concluded, it left a lasting impression of the synergetic potential between cultural heritage and environmental sustainability. This event not only enriched the participants’ understanding but also strengthened the collaborative bonds, setting a dynamic course for the project’s future endeavors in Hungary, Malta, Spain, and Bulgaria.
The third international event of the Green Up project recently unfolded in the picturesque city of Panevėžys, marking another significant stride towards promoting sustainability and green entrepreneurship. Spanning from the 9th to the 12th of May 2023, the gathering saw the arrival of participants from various partner delegations, who were set to engage in an array of activities designed to foster educational enrichment, cultural exchange, and strategic project coordination.
The initiative commenced with a welcoming dinner on the 9th, setting a congenial stage for the collaborative endeavors that ensued. On the 10th, participants convened in the hotel’s conference room, joined by over 40 students from four local gymnasiums, setting the scene for a day of insightful discourse and interaction. The Vice-Mayor of Panevėžys, Žibutė Gaivenienė, officially opened the proceedings of the third meeting within the European GREENUP project framework, emphasizing the pivotal role of the new generation in spearheading sustainable change and the importance of collaborative efforts to tackle climate change and achieve environmental objectives.
The event was further enriched by the presence of a special guest from the project’s funding body, Asta Kulbačiauskienė, who lauded the active and reliable partnership of Lithuanian municipalities in Network of Towns projects. Representatives from the newly joined Italian municipality of Messina shared insights into their city’s youth and climate change projects, contributing to the pool of exemplary practices.
A highlight of the meeting was the engaging presentation by the Daugavpils Municipality Youth department, which stepped in for absent project partners, sharing valuable expertise on youth engagement and the influence of personal habits on climate change. Following a brief film showcasing Panevėžys’ green actions and legislation, Kotryna Jackevičiūtė from the Panevėžys Youth Union – Round Table, presented the active involvement of local youth in sustainability efforts.
The event’s agenda was further diversified with an intergenerational workshop led by Dr. Paulina Budrytė, exploring the Anthropocene and encouraging participants to reflect on their daily activities’ GHG footprint. The discussions and role-playing games that ensued provided profound insights into individual and collective actions required to combat climate change.
A visit to the region’s characteristic karst sinkholes and an educational session on old traditions at Biržai Castle offered participants a unique blend of environmental learning and cultural immersion. The project partners also engaged in a critical coordination session, welcoming new consortium members and deliberating on project budget and upcoming events, ensuring the smooth progression of Green Up’s objectives.
As the event drew to a close with participants’ departure on the 12th, the third international meeting of the Green Up project in Panevėžys stood out as a testament to the power of collaborative endeavor in paving the way for a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.
The city of Novo Mesto became the venue for the second international event of the European Green Up project, a key milestone in the promotion of sustainability and green entrepreneurship. From 16 to 19 January, the event brought together experts, students and participants from around the globe to share ideas, strategies and visions for the sustainable future of our communities and cities.
Throughout the two-day event, interactive workshops, presentations on sustainable urban development strategies and enriching discussions focused on green transition and digitalisation. The initiative sought not only to explore the integration of sustainable practices in tourism and other sectors, but also to empower young and future entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools necessary to lead this change.
Significant highlights included welcome speeches by local authorities and presentations on Novo mesto’s sustainable urban development strategy. Practical workshops focused on ecology and green innovation were held at the GRM Novo mesto – Centre for Biotechnology and Tourism, where the «Zero Waste» strategy and the impact of the current crisis on the environmental awareness of young people were discussed.
This meeting served as an invaluable platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practices, as well as offering a unique opportunity to establish valuable connections and foster collaboration between different sectors and disciplines. The culmination of the event was the creative sessions, in which participants reflected on the principles and objectives of the EU, the European Green Pact and its essential role in promoting a more sustainable and resilient future.
At the close of the event, attendees returned home not only with memories of a deeply enriching experience, but also with a shared commitment to work towards greener and more sustainable development. This second international event of the Green Up project in Novo mesto has proven to be a shining example of how communities can come together to address the environmental and economic challenges of the present and future, paving the way towards a more sustainable and digital era.
The GREENUP project (European youth reflecting about the green future of Europe) has a budget of 148,000 euros, financed by the European Commission, and these funds will be used mainly to achieve the following objectives: to raise awareness and sensitise young people about the European Green Pact and its role in the ecological transition of the EU and to increase the civic responsibility of young people in issues related to the sustainable development of their cities.
The project is part of the ‘Network of Cities’ line within the CERV programme (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values). It has a total of eight participating organisations from the following countries: Spain, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Malta, Lithuania, North Macedonia and Hungary.
The GREENUP project has a duration of two years where transnational trips, workshops and conferences will take place around the participating countries in order to raise the awareness of local European communities and their young people.
El projecte GREENUP de Tibi parla sobre els nous reptes fornt el desafiament mediambiental
Recently, Tibi Town Council has received the good news about the approval of the project GREENUP: European youth reflecting about the green future of Europe which will have a budget of 148.000 € financed by the European Commission. These funds will mainly be used to achieve the following objectives: to raise awareness and sensitise young people about the European Green Pact and their role in the EU’s ecological transition and to increase the civic responsibility of young people on issues related to the sustainable development of their cities.
The project is part of the «Network of Cities» strand of the CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) programme. It has a total of 8 participating organisations from the following countries: Spain, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Malta, Lithuania, North Macedonia and Hungary.
The GREENUP project will have a duration of 2 years where transnational trips, workshops and conferences will take place around the participating countries to raise awareness of European local communities and their young people in their commitment to the European Green Pact as a response to the current social crisis caused by the COVID19 pandemic. Youth will be a key factor in the outcomes of the project.
Tibi Town Council has received support from the Diputación de Alicante by virtue of the approval of the current European project.