Change with Ecological Awareness: Young People Began Their Ecological Awareness Journey in Alcobendas

The Erasmus+ KA152 Youth Exchange project “Change with Ecological Awareness” (Project No. 2025-3-ES02-KA152-YOU-000368105) was held in Alcobendas, Spain, from 29 March to 4 April 2026, under the coordination of Asociación Green Eurosanse. Bringing together young participants from Spain, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Türkiye, and Estonia, the project created an international learning environment where participants explored environmental sustainability, ecological awareness, and responsible lifestyles through non-formal education activities while strengthening intercultural dialogue, active citizenship, and European cooperation.

The opening day of the project focused on helping participants get to know one another while creating a learning community built around environmental awareness and collaboration. Through a variety of ice-breaking and team-building activities, young people established their first international connections and shared their perspectives on environmental challenges affecting their countries and local communities.

One of the first activities, "Eco-Passport," encouraged participants to introduce themselves by sharing their environmentally friendly habits, favorite natural places, and personal environmental concerns. Although they came from diverse cultural backgrounds, participants quickly discovered many shared values regarding environmental protection. This activity laid a strong foundation for communication, trust, and cooperation throughout the youth exchange. During the "Project Map: Orientation" session, participants were introduced to the project's objectives, programme, working methods, and expectations while collaboratively establishing group rules that fostered a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment.

The educational programme continued with the workshop "Introduction to Zero Waste and Ecological Footprint," where participants explored the principles of zero-waste living and the concept of the ecological footprint. Through presentations, videos, interactive discussions, and practical exercises, they examined how everyday consumption habits influence the environment and reflected on the importance of adopting more sustainable lifestyles. During the ecological footprint calculation activity, participants assessed the environmental impact of their transportation choices, energy use, food consumption, and daily routines, discovering that even small behavioral changes can significantly reduce their ecological footprint.

The final session of the day focused on "Green Living in the City," introducing participants to sustainable urban development practices from different European cities. Through group discussions and collaborative learning, they explored innovative ideas such as bicycle-friendly transport systems, community gardens, recycling initiatives, renewable energy solutions, and the expansion of urban green spaces. By the end of the first day, participants had not only built new international friendships but also developed a stronger understanding of environmental sustainability, laying a solid foundation for the practical workshops, collaborative projects, and learning experiences that would continue throughout the exchange.