HESL, Author at HESL Ireland

Up-Root Eco Democracy | Erasmus+ Transnational Project Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal

Our team just got back from our second Transnational Project Meeting in Lisbon! We had the chance to meet our partners from Sweden, Turkey, Portugal, and Denmark once again to evaluate and assess our successful Up-Root project. The project Up-Root Eco-Democracy aims to increase youth’s confidence in the EU’s ability to tackle climate change and increase youth voter turnout in the 2024 EU elections and beyond. Together, project partners will promote sustainable city development and green practices on a local to global scale, while simultaneously increasing youth’s capacity to research and advocate for environmental issues, promoting young voices in global debate. Day 1: Project Evaluation The focus of the first meeting day was the assessment of the second phase of the project. We also carried out a final evaluation and discussed the project’s long-term sustainability. Partners also reviewed the final versions of the outputs and materials created. We ended the meeting with the preparation for the final report. Day 2: Cultural Tour On the second day, partners took their time to explore Portugal’s capital and trying its local food. This has been a very solid partnership that allowed us to create great resources, opportunities and results for young people. We are happy to have met our partners again at our final project meeting in Lisbon. We will implement the last set of local activities in the upcoming months and put forward some other collaboration ideas for future projects. If you would like to join us, make sure to check our Facebook and Instagram pages for future updates.

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Youth Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship | YEA-EU Erasmus+ Youth Mobility in Portugal

HESL

From the 26th to the 30th November, young people from France, Ireland, Denmark, Italy, Romania, and Portugal came together in Lisbon for an inspiring event focused on youth entrepreneurship and the setting up of youth NGOs. Hosted by For Citizens Institute, the mobility aimed to empower youth participants to explore entrepreneurship, build impactful NGOs, and foster cross-cultural collaboration. The Project ‘Youth Eco-Activism in the EU‘ is a KA220 youth project designed to raise awareness of the climate crisis among young people and equip them with the tools to take initiative and address these issues. Specifically, the project’s goal is to guide youth in creating their own social enterprises focused on mitigating climate change and to encourage more young people to engage in climate action through youth-led activism and participation in the EU elections in June 2024. The project involves young people and youth workers from France, Ireland, Portugal, Romania and Denmark. It includes local activities and 2 youth mobilities in 2024. Partners will also create two practical guidebooks on online activism and EU elections, and a platform with information to set-up youth-NGOs. The project has a Facebook page and Instagram page updated with all ongoing and scheduled activities. Day 1: Introductions and Teambuilding The first day began with participants meeting each other and learning about the host organization and partners. The morning sessions also included team building activities to set a good collaborative environment for the week. In the afternoon, participants engaged in roundtable discussions about the role of NGOs in society and the significance of youth-led initiatives. The day concluded with a Portuguese and Italian cultural night, where participants showcased their countries’ traditions. Day 2: Understanding and Exploring NGO Landscapes Day two expanded participants’ understanding of NGOs. Young people researched and presented policies and steps to set up an NGO in the partner countries. The sessions carried on in the afternoon with a practical workshop on project management and leadership skills. Participants were given a real-life business scenario to roleplay and present. Day 3: Building the Blueprint Day three focused on planning and fundraising. In the morning, participants received a useful insight into the Erasmus+ programme and the European funding available for youth NGOs. In the afternoon, they delved into the drafting of their NGO business plan to bring their ideas into reality. We finished off the day with an amazing cultural night, tasting Romanian and Irish food. Day 4: Sharpening the Skills Day four was all about testing their communication skills, persuasion and leadership by participating in an engaging role-play panel workshop. Young people pitched their enterprise ideas and convinced the judges to fund their youth entrepreneurship. Day 5: Reflecting and Celebrating The final day started with a visit to one of the local NGOs. Participants had the opportunity to learn more about social enterprise first-hand, asking insightful questions about their connection with the municipality and impact on the community. We finished off the day with a final reflection and a certificate ceremony. What’s next? The next phase of the project includes online and in-person events in all partner countries to present the project resources. They will also be available for free to use and download. More information coming soon on our social media! Check our Facebook and Instagram to find more information on these and other events in the upcoming months and how you can take part!

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ONSTAGE mobility in Germany on minorities discrimination

Youth Mobility On Theatre and Minorities Discrimination in Germany | Erasmus+ ON S.T.A.G.E. Project

HESL

We spent a great creative week in Berlin for our Erasmus+ ON STAGE Project last October! We were hosted by our German coordinator Alrahallah Theater Berlin from the 13th to the 17st October to shoot the second theatre performance of the project. Combining social theatre and discussions about inclusion and minorities discrimination in our societies, we came up with an original play to talk about the importance of showing empathy and kindness in our everyday life to change biases and make life better for everyone in our community. The project ‘Social Theatre for the Active Generation in the EU’ (ON S.T.A.G.E) is a KA210 youth project designed to empower young people (aged 18-30) in Germany, Ireland, Greece and Portugal to engage with political issues through theatre. It aims to promote civic engagement among disadvantaged youth, especially for those from ethnic minority backgrounds. They will develop critical citizenship skills and be encouraged to advocate for change by voting in the European elections, increasing their social participation. The projects included local activities and 2 youth mobilities in Greece and Germany. Partners created useful resources, including a project website, a Guidebook on participation in the EU elections for youth and Youth worker Toolkit on youths’ socio-political inclusion. The project has a Facebook page and Instagram page updated with all activities and links to resources. DAY 1 – 13th October On the first day, we got to know each other through theatre-based team building activities. We then focussed on theatre techniques, especially body language, to set the scene for the rest of the week. DAY 2 – 14th October On the second day, participants worked on the theme of the mobility and the play, which was introduced during the pre-departure online workshops. They shared experiences and view points on nowadays society’s oppressors and oppressed. They also discussed today’s social problems across Europe, including minorities discrimination. From this, they drew the theme of the stage performance. DAY 3 – 15th October On the third day, participants worked on the story and got an introduction to social theatre. They decided their roles and worked on building the initial connection to their characters. DAY 4 – 16th October On the fourth day, the group rehearsed the main performance. They also got the chance to explore Berlin, passing by the main landmarks of the city. DAY 5 – 17th October On the fifth and last day, teh group shot the video of the final performance! You can find it on Youtube (link here). We finished off the day with a collective reflection on the experience, where participants shared their feedback and emotions felt throughout the week. What’s next? The next phase of the project includes online and in-person events in all partner countries to present the project resources. They will also be available for free to use and download. For more information on these and other opportunities for young people coming soon, check our Facebook and Instagram pages!

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Youth Eco-Tourism For Community Development | Erasmus+ Youth Mobility in Romania

HESL

From October 8th to 11th, youth from Ireland, Estonia, Romania, and Portugal gathered to explore the connection between youth NGOs and eco-tourism as a tool for community development. The youth mobility was part of our Eco-Tourism Erasmus+ project. The project ‘Eco-Tourism for Social Entrepreneurship Health and Well-Being Among Youth‘ is a KA210 youth project that aims to empower young people in rural and urban communities to engage with their green areas and take innovative action towards fighting climate change through the promotion of ecotourism. The project involves young people and youth organisations from Estonia, Ireland, Portugal and Romania. They will be involved in local activities, webinars and 2 mobilties. During the project, a booklet, a website and an app will also be created. The project has a Facebook page and Instagram page updated with all ongoing and scheduled activities. Day 1: Introduction and Discussions The opening day was all about introductions. After some teambuilding activities, participants engaged in partner presentations to share insights into their organisations and local contexts. In the afternoon, they joined an roundtable discussion on the role that young people can play in community growth. Day 2: Discovering Local Innovations The second day delved deeper into local initiatives. Participants took part in a workshop led by the NGO Mare Nostrum on micro plastic. They also received a visit from local organisations, gaining valuable insights into the NGO creation and work for young people in Constanța. The day concluded with young people revising the outputs created for the project and sharing valuable feedback for improvement and dissemination. In the evening, we had a lively cultural night offering participants the chance to celebrate Irish and Portuguese cultures through food and traditional music. Day 3: Hands-On Learning and Exploration Day three was dedicated to practical learning, as each country piloted a workshop plan included in the Eco-Tourism Toolkit. Participants got hands-on experience in brainstorming their NGO ideas, networking and creating a social media plan for their NGO. In the afternoon, young people took part in a fun activity around the city to build resilience and communication skills. The day ended with an outdoor activity that took the group into Constanța’s cultural sites, testing the eco-tourism routes designed to guide visitors while highlighting sustainability. In the evening, we had a lovely time eating together at a Romanian restaurant, where we had our Romanian and Estonian cultural night. Day 4: Wrapping Up and Looking Forward On the final day, participants reflected on the mobility, sharing ideas on how to implement eco-tourism projects in their communities. To share these moments, we shot video interviews to capture their feedback on the experience. What’s next? The next phase of the project includes online and in-person events in all partner countries to present the project resources. They will also be available for free to use and download. More information coming soon on our social media! Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages to find other opportunities!

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Sustainable Development Turkey LTTA 2 in September 2024

Youth Mobility on Sustainable Development | Up-Root LTTA 2 in Turkey

HESL

We just spent an amazing week in Cappadocia for our second Youth mobility on sustainable development! As part of our Erasmus+ Up root project, young people from Ireland, Sweden, Danemark, Portugal and Turkey had the opportunity to travel to the marvelous Cappadocia region to discuss sustainable cities, learn more about the EU-Turkey relationship and explore the ancient sites. The Project Up-Root Eco-Democracy is a KA120 youth project aiming to empower youth by increasing awareness about the EU, democratic processes, and climate change. With the upcoming European Parliament elections in mind, the project aims to enhance youth participation in democracy. The project hopes to instil a sense of responsibility and activism among the youth, equipping them with the tools to shape the future and address the pressing issue of climate change. Up-Root has a Facebook page and Instagram page updated with all ongoing and scheduled activities. Young people will be engaged in local activities, online webinars and one more upcoming mobility in Turkey. Day 1 We kicked off the mobility on the 3rd September with a lot of icebreakers and team building games that helped getting to know each other more before starting the activities. We then took part in an interactive seminars where we learned about and discussed the historical and political relations between Turkey & the EU that led to new opportunities such as this Erasmus+ project. After lunch, we were introduced to the main topic of the mobility, sustainable city development, starting by discussing the Issues brought by the 2023 devastating earthquake in the South-East of Turkey. The activities ended with a fun creative workshop! Young people came up with brand new solutions for sustainable city development, using recycled materials to build their prototypes. Group 1 developed an innovative eye catching creation for waste collection. Group 2 designed a boat combining water, wind and solar energy. Group 3 created a house system that used wind and solar energy, as well as a system to reuse rain in the household. As the 1st day came to a close, we had fun on the Swedish and Danish cultural night. Day 2 On the 2nd day, the activities were focused on the two main project topics: democracy and sustainability. In the morning, we had a practical workshop. Participants created social media content to promote eco-friendly behavious, the project and the international day of the democracy. We also took part in a mock election workshop. The two elected youth president and vice president lead the afternoon sessions, which included insightful roundtable discussion on the role of the EU in combating climate change. Young people expressed interesting and valid ideas on how institutions should move forward in their sustainable development plans. Day 3 The 3rd day was excursion day! We had a great time learning more about Turkish history, trying local food and exploring Göreme stunning sites. In the afternoon, our Turkish host organised a visit to the Nevsehir municipality. Young people had the opportunity to meet the Mayor of the city and learn more about his political background, as well as his views for sustainable city development and tourism. The day finished off with a bang! We listened to Turkish singers, tried the Irish dance and tasted some food from Portugal. Day 4 On the last day, we wrapped up the mobility with a session to share our feedback and a certificate ceremony! What’s next? This was the last mobility planned for the Up-Root project, which is ending in February 2025. However, we have other opportunities for young people to take part in similar life-changing opportunities! Check our Facebook and Instagram pages for updates on upcoming Erasmus+ youth opportunities.

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Eco-friendly routes & sustainable tourism | Erasmus + youth mobility in Estonia

HESL

We flew to Estonia in April for our 1st youth mobility as part of the Erasmus+ “Eco-tourism for Social Entrepreneurship, Health, and Well-being” project! Our Estonian partner hosted young people from Ireland, Portugal and Romania to work on eco-friendly routes and tips for sustainable tourism! The project ‘Eco-Tourism for Social Entrepreneurship Health and Well-Being Among Youth‘ is a KA210 youth project that aims to empower young people in rural and urban communities to engage with their green areas and take innovative action towards fighting climate change through the promotion of ecotourism. The project involves young people and youth organisations from Estonia, Ireland, Portugal and Romania, which will be involved in local activities, webinars and 2 mobilties. During the project, a booklet, a website and an app will also be created. The project has a Facebook page and Instagram page updated with all ongoing and scheduled activities. Day 1 – Embracing sustainability The first day began with an introduction session with ice-breaker activities to get to know each other. We visited the youth centre and got the chance to learn more about Estonian youth work. In the afternoon, we started working on the project’s booklet. Each group presented the eco-friendly routes they had created during the local activities. We received useful feedback and we shared our ideas regarding the eco-friendly measure our country should adopt to enable eco-tourism. We finished off the day with a brainstorming session on the project’s app layout, which will be available soon! Day 2 – Exploring Paldiski On the second day, the group took part in an exciting excursion to Paldiski, a former Soviet Navy closed town. They had the chance to explore the surroundings and discuss nuclear waste disposal while reflecting on the importance of preserving the natural environment and our health. Day 3 – Advocating sustainable tourism Continuing the theme of sustainability, day three focused on finalising the eco-friendly routes and tips. We also discussed and compared tips for sustainable tourism, which provided valuable insights into responsible travel practices in our countries. In the afternoon, young people visited Rummu and learned about the requalification of an abandoned prison and flooded quarry, a local project for environmental conservation and heritage preservation. Day 4 – Reflection and Tallinn visit As the mobility drew to a close, young people were given space to reflect on their experience, provide feedback and learn about the Youthpass certificate. To end the activity with a bang, we all took a day trip to Tallinn! We explored the city together and put into practice the eco-friendly routes and tips discussed! What’s next? The second and final mobility for this project is going to take place in Romania from the 8th to the 11th of October! We’re looking for 6 young people to take on this Erasmus+ funded mobility, so sign up here and get in touch to learn more! Our Facebook and Instagram pages are the best places to stay updated about all upcoming opportunities! We have a few coming up for young people all over Europe!

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Youth Mobility On Theatre and EU Elections in Greece | Erasmus+ ON S.T.A.G.E. Project

HESL

What a creative week we just spent combining puppet theatre and discussions about the EU elections in Greece! We were hosted by our Greek partner Prasin Aloga from the 17th to the 21st April to shoot the first theatre performance of the Erasmus+ ONSTAGE project. We came up with an original story to talk about the importance of expressing our voices and convince more young people to vote for the European Elections this June! The project ‘Social Theatre for the Active Generation in the EU’ (ON S.T.A.G.E) is a KA210 youth project designed to empower young people (aged 18-30) in Germany, Ireland, Greece and Portugal to engage with political issues through theatre. It aims to promote civic engagement among disadvantaged youth, especially for those from ethnic minority backgrounds. They will develop critical citizenship skills and be encouraged to advocate for change by voting in the European elections, increasing their social participation. The projects includes local activities and 2 youth mobilities in Greece and Germany. Partners will create useful resources, including a project website, a Guidebook on participation in the EU elections for youth and Youth worker Toolkit on youths’ socio-political inclusion. The project has a Facebook page and Instagram page updated with all ongoing and scheduled activities. DAY 1 – 17th April On the first day, we met to start finalising the story we drafted during the online theatre preparation sessions. Each participant also had the chance to create their own puppet character from scratch under the guidance of our Greek expert partner. DAY 2 – 18th April On the second day, participants worked on their connection to their character and found its space in the story. They also practised how to move the puppet on stage, making it look as natural as possible in its movements and finding a way to express their emotions and voices through its presence on the stage. In the afternoon, we got the chance to explore Athens! We visited the stunning Acropolis, walked in streets of the ancient city and browsed around the ancient Agora! For many of us, this was a memorable moment, as we explored the places where our contemporary ideas of democracy and politics discussed during the local activities and online sessions stemmed from. DAY 3 – 19th April On the third day, the group rehearsed the main performance! Participants created their small dialogues and got the chance to test the story, bringing their puppets finally alive and interacting with each other. DAY 4 – 20th April On the forth day, we shot the video of the final performance! Participants also got the chance to express their preferences on the background music and the outro for the final product. We also got the chance to learn more about our countries thanks to the cultural night! We tried a little bit of everything, from the Irish dance to the Portuguese karaoke, passing by Greek olives and cheese and German tong twisters! DAY 5 – 21st April On the fifth and last day, we had a collective reflection on the experience, where participants shared their feedback and emotions felt throughout the week. We also had our certificate ceremony and participants got to learn more about the Youthpass certificate. What about the theatre performance story? Are you curious to see what young people came up with during the week? We will release and promote the final video on our upcoming webinar on June 20th at 5:30pm (Irish time)! Get in touch to receive the link! Sneak peak: it includes spiders, giants, ghosts and a flying character! How is this related to democracy and the EU elections? It’s up to you to find out! What’s next? The next phase of the project includes the finalisation of the project’s Guidebook on Youth Participation in the European Elections. This includes information on ethnic minorities struggles and non-formal methods for youth workers to address and discuss these topics and the youth involvement in the EU elections. It will be available for free to use and download! More information coming soon on our Facebook and Instagram! The project will continue with the preparation of the second and final mobility, planned for October 2024. We will fly to Germany and interact on a stage theatre! Are you interested in taking part? We are looking for 3 participants willing to travel and experiment with stage theatre! Sign up here to take part and contact us to get more information!

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Youth Mobility in Copenhagen Yea Eu project

Youth Activism and EU Elections | Erasmus+ Mobility in Denmark | YEA – EU Project

HESL

In March, we got the chance to travel to Copenhagen as part of our “Youth Eco Activism in the EU” Erasmus+ project! Hosted by Copenhagen Youth Network, we discussed the Eu elections and youth eco-activism with young people and youth workers from Ireland, France, Denmark, Portugal, Italy and Romania! Day 1 – EEA & Copenhagen We kicked off the mobility with a warm welcome and an energising activity to get everyone in the right spirit. In the afternoon, we took part in an insightful study visit at the European Environment Agency (EEA). This offered a deep dive into the European agency work, its contribution to the EU environmental studies and agenda. They also presented the internship opportunities available at the European Union and answered our questions on how to take part. We also went on a great Copenhagen cultural tour delivered by one of the Danish young people. Day 2 – Eu elections & youth civic engagement Saturday 9th March was a very intense day! We started with a thought-provoking roundtable discussion focused on the common obstacles faced by youth in society concerning civic and political engagement, as well as voting. Participants shared their insights and experiences, as well as suggested some strategies to increase participation and awareness among younger generations. In the afternoon, participants developed practical infographics outlining the steps to register and vote in the upcoming June European elections. We finished off by discussing the role of the EU and the impact of the elections on shaping our future. The results of our discussions and the infographics are now available on our website and project’s social media! Day 3 – Mock elections & lobbying letters On Sunday 10th March, we focused on putting into practice what we had discussed and making our voices heard! We began with a mock EU election workshop, providing participants with hands-on experience of the electoral process and the opportunity to engage in lively debates on key issues. Following this, we conducted a workshop on creating lobbying letters to communicate their concerns and advocate for change at both local and EU levels. We ended the day with fun activities for the cultural night in true Erasmus spirit. Day 4 – Europa Experience visit On Monday 11th March, we met up in front of the Europa Experience building in Copenhagen. Young people got the chance to get more familiar with the MEPs at the European Parliament and to discuss important European priorities. Day 5 – Youthpass and farewell The last day was all focussed on reflection, where young people shared their thoughts and feedback on the mobility, which will help organise the next meet-up in Portugal! Is there another mobility? Of course there’s another mobility! The next youth international activity will take place in Portugal in late November. There’s space for 5 young people so sign up here now to take part! Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to have more information regarding this and other opportunities for youth funded under the Erasmus+ programme! The Project ‘Youth Eco-Activism in the EU‘ is a KA220 youth project designed to raise awareness of the climate crisis among young people and equip them with the tools to take initiative and address these issues. Specifically, the project’s goal is to guide youth in creating their own social enterprises focused on mitigating climate change and to encourage more young people to engage in climate action through youth-led activism and participation in the EU elections in June 2024. The project involves young people and youth workers from France, Ireland, Portugal, Romania and Denmark. It includes local activities and 2 youth mobilities in 2024. Partners will also create two practical guidebooks on online activism and EU elections, and a platform with information to set-up youth-NGOs. The project has a Facebook page and Instagram page updated with all ongoing and scheduled activities.

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Erasmus+ Project The Voice of Youth | Young Journalists’ Meet-Up in Dublin

HESL

In February, we hosted our Estonian and Hungarian partners and aspiring young journalists for the second meeting of the Voice of Youth Erasmus+ project! The project ‘The Voice of Youth’ is a KA120 youth project involving aspiring young journalists from Ireland, Estonia and Hungary, which aims at promoting youth journalism in local communities. Young people will develop key media and digital competencies, confidence and critical thinking skills thanks to the e-platform that will be developed during the project. The meeting The meeting took place on the 9th and 10th of February, with young people and project partners discussing the first results created. Each partner presented the first video developed for the platform and received feedback from both staff members and young people. The feedback will be very important to create the rest of the materials based on young people’s preferences and suggestions. One video was about the ethics of journalism and the challenges young journalists may encouter during their carrer. The second video was an instruction guide on how to use buffer to schedule posts and promote your articles. The third video was giving useful advice on how to write a newsarticle. After the meeting, we visited a local youth centre, where participants got the chance to learn more about youth work in Ireland, especially for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. We also took the group out in the city to explore Dublin! We visited the main landmarks, which included the Spire, GPO, O’Connor Street and Bridge, Trinity College Dublin, Molly Malone and the Temple Bar! What’s next? Are you passionate about video-making or the projec’s topics? In the upcoming months, we will be developing the materials with the help of local youth! Do you want to improve your skills in marketing, social media, photography, journalism and more? Contact us! The next and final mobility for this project is planned for the 17th and the 18th September 2024. We have space for 3 young people to come along with us! Sign up for it here now! Also, don’t forget to follow our Facebook Page or Instagram for more details and opportunities in Ireland and abroad!

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Up-Root Eco-Democracy | Erasmus+ Mobility in Copenhagen, Denmark

HESL

In February, our Erasmus+ Youth Ambassadors met in Copenhagen, Denmark for our first Up-Root Eco-Democracy Erasmus+ mobility. Our Youth Ambassadors from Ireland, Turkey, Denmark, Sweden, and Portugal had a lot of fun learning about addressing climate change by voting in the EU elections. The project Up-Root Eco-Democracy is a KA120 youth project aiming to empower youth by increasing awareness about the EU, democratic processes, and climate change. With the upcoming European Parliament elections in mind, the project aims to enhance youth participation in democracy. The project hopes to instil a sense of responsibility and activism among the youth, equipping them with the tools to shape the future and address the pressing issue of climate change. Up-Root has a Facebook page and Instagram page updated with all ongoing and scheduled activities. Young people will be engaged in local activities, online webinars and one more upcoming mobility in Turkey. Day 1 During the first day of our Erasmus+ activity on Tuesday, we learned a bit more about each other as well as about the EU. We began with some ice breaker exercises so that everyone would feel welcome and included. Before jumping into learning about democracy in the EU, our Danish host led team building activities, where Youth Ambassadors shared their personal stories through painting colorful mandalas. Our first session was an interactive seminar on EU legislation, jurisdiction and activities. Young people played a matching game about EU country flags in which they learned about each EU member states. Then, participants got introduced to the roles of EU parliament. Our Ambassadors discussed how the EU does and could address climate change in areas including tech, inclusion, production and sales as well as city planning. Then we discussed how voting in the upcoming EU elections empowers youth to address climate change globally! Our Youth Ambassadors found out how different countries arrange their EU elections. We learned about different voting methods and their implications on election outcomes. As our final activity, we held mock elections to select a president and vice president to represent our Youth Ambassadors during the remainder of our visit. The Ambassadors had fun selecting their candidates, collaboratively writing their pitches, delivering them and finally actually voting using the Two-Round Voting System. The day set a dynamic tone, laying the groundwork for a week of collaborative learning and cultural exchange. Day 2 The second day started with an energizer led by the Irish Ambassadors, preparing us for a day filled with group activities. In preparation for our visit to the European Environment Agency (EEA) on Thursday, we researched what the EEA does to prevent the climate crisis, and what their role is in the EU’s decision making processes. Ambassadors read the EEA’s research on nature, health, sustainability and economy. We then came up with questions to ask during our upcoming visit. Finally, our president and vice-president led a youth ambassador meeting to finalise the questions. After lunch, our Danish host took us on a beautiful walking tour of Copenhagen. We walked by the city’s famous attractions, like the City Hall, Tivoli, Frue Plads, and got the opportunity to learn the history and stories behind them. Day 3 The third day gave us the opportunity to visit the European Environmental Agency (EEA). The EEA’s staff members and interns held an insightful presentation about the Agency. Ambassadors learned about their roles and responsibilities in tackling environmental issues and climate change. Additionally, we were informed about traineeship opportunities in the EEA. At the end, Ambassadors asked their questions and received transparent and informing answers. After our visit, we held a debriefing session, during which the Ambassadors shared their thoughts. We ended the day with a fun and playful cultural night. Our Ambassadors from across the continent shared their culture with us through delicious food, traditional dances and gleeful quizzes! Day 4 Our last day of the Up-Root Democracy Project Mobility in Copenhagen, Denmark was all about reflection, feedback and farewell. Our host held a reflection and feedback session where young people shared their feelings, thoughts and compared their expectations about the mobility with their current experiences. We awarded our Youth Ambassadors with certificates to acknowledge their hard work and learning. After the certification ceremony and it was time to say goodbye to our new friends until we see again during the next mobility in Cappadocia, Turkey. Did you miss this opportunity to use democracy to battle climate change? Do you want to join us for our upcoming activities? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more information on this and upcoming Erasmus+opportunities. We have plenty coming up in 2024!

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