Identification & Background:
Project Name: Green Steps
Project Description: The “Green Steps” project promotes environmental protection by raising ecological awareness and supporting sustainable lifestyles. Through workshops and hands-on activities, participants learn to reduce waste, reuse materials, and recycle. They develop key competences like teamwork, creativity, and responsibility, explore global ecological challenges, and engage as active citizens in local and international green initiatives.
Project Code: 2024-3-PL01-KA152-YOU-000282807
Approval Date: 31.12.2025
Start Date: 2025-04-01
Completion Date: 2025-09-30
Total Eligible Investment: 33 801.00 EUR
Financial Support: 33 801.00 EUR
Promoters: Integra+ Foundation
Co-promoters:
MORE – Laboratório Colaborativo Montanhas de Investigação –
Associação (E10251218, PT)
ActEU – Activists for EU youth mobility (E10359340, IT) Włochy
CERCUL EXCELENTEI (E10058198, RO) Rumunia
ZDRUZENIE ZA KULTURNA SORABOTKA INTERKULTURA, SKOPJE (E10199704, MK)
Objectives
Our project “Green Steps” aims to actively contribute to environmental protection by fostering pro-ecological attitudes and raising awareness about sustainable development. We want to show participants how to effectively reduce waste, reuse items, and promote recycling in their daily lives. Workshops and practical activities will allow participants to acquire not only knowledge but also skills that will enable them to lead a more conscious, sustainable lifestyle.
International collaboration will be key to our project—young people from different countries
will exchange experiences and best practices, compare solutions related to waste management
and environmental protection in their countries, and jointly seek new solutions.
They will learn about the most significant ecological challenges in other regions and discover how different
societies respond to these problems. Through their participation in the project, youth will
engage in local, regional, and European ecological initiatives, becoming active ambassadors for
change.
Upon completing the project, participants will promote the knowledge and skills they have acquired in their communities, getting involved in further ecological activities and continuing the “Green Steps” in their daily lives. Our shared goal is to create a more aware, responsible society that cares for the future of our planet.
Activities
The Green Steps project brings together 35 young participants from five
countries—Poland, Portugal, Italy, Romania, and North Macedonia. Each national
group consists of 7 youth participants and one experienced group leader who
facilitates activities and fosters collaboration. The project focuses on promoting
sustainable development and ecological values through non-formal education and
cross-cultural exchange.
Project Activities:
● Thematic Workshops: Participants take part in interactive workshops focused
on environmental protection, sustainable development, recycling, and practical
ecological solutions. These sessions provide both theoretical knowledge and
hands-on skills that participants can apply and promote in their own
communities.
● Ecological Actions: Participants engage in collective, action-based
environmental initiatives, such as “zero waste” workshops and projects
imagining a green future. These activities encourage teamwork and active
involvement in environmental stewardship.
● Debates and Discussions: The program includes open debates addressing
ecological challenges in each participant’s home country. Youth exchange
perspectives, propose solutions, and engage in dialogue with local residents,,
and members of the “Nadleśnictwo Krasiczyn” – Krasiczyn Forest District and
Mayor of the Krasiczyn Commune.
● Exchange of Good Practices: Through presentations and interactive sessions,
participants explore ecological strategies used in different countries. They also
learn practical skills such as selecting tree species suited to specific climate and
soil conditions, tree planting techniques, and ecosystem maintenance in both
urban and rural environments. The environmental benefits of creating green
spaces—such as air purification, soil conservation, and wildlife support—are
discussed in detail. Participants use this knowledge in future activities and share
their efforts through social media and local outreach.
Expected Results
The expected results and impact of the “Green Steps” project on participants, local
communities, and the broader environment can be described in several key areas. Our project,
inspired by the idea of sustainable development, aims not only to raise environmental
awareness among youth but also to introduce lasting changes in their behaviors and attitudes
towards environmental protection. Below, we present the detailed results and planned impact
of our project.
1. Increase in Environmental Knowledge and Practical Skills
The first and most important result of the project will be an increase in participants’ knowledge
about sustainable development and environmental protection. Through thematic workshops,
participants will gain not only theoretical understanding of ecological issues but also practical
skills that they can apply in their countries. We expect that each group will be able to carry out
activities for ecology, such as organizing cleanup events, promoting recycling, or conducting
local educational campaigns. This approach will not only enrich their knowledge but also strengthen their confidence as future ecological leaders in their communities.
2. Inspiration for Local Action
Another expected result is to inspire participants to undertake local ecological actions. After
the project concludes, participants will return to their countries with new ideas and
enthusiasm for implementing changes. We plan for each participant to carry out at least one
ecological initiative in their country, which will contribute to positive change in their
communities.
3. Strengthening Intercultural Ties
Our project also aims to strengthen the bonds among participants from different countries.
Through joint activities, discussions, and integration events, participants will have the
opportunity to experience the diversity of cultures and exchange experiences. We expect that through these interactions, participants will develop skills for cooperation in international
teams, which is invaluable in today’s global world. Such international networking can bring
benefits both personally and professionally, contributing to the creation of a network of young ecological leaders.
4. Increasing Engagement of Local Communities
One of the goals of our project is also to engage local communities in environmental protection
activities. By organizing debates that invite local residents and mayor of Krasiczyn, and the
members of Krasiczyn Forest District the project aims to raise interest in ecological issues
within the broader community. We expect that through the active participation of local
residents, there will be an exchange of experiences and ideas, contributing to the development of common solutions to ecological problems.
5. Lasting Changes in Attitudes Toward the Environment
The ultimate goal of the project is to instill pro-ecological attitudes in participants that will be
enduring and will influence theirfuture life and career decisions. As young leaders, participants
will be able to inspire their peers and families to take action for environmental protection. In
the long term, we can expect that our actions will contribute to changing the ecological culture
in their communities, which, in turn, may lead to more sustainable development and better
protection of the local ecosystem.
6. Increased Visibility of Ecological Actions in the Media
Planned activities will also aim to increase the visibility of ecological initiatives on social media.
Participants will document their actions and share them on social media platforms, allowing
them to reach a wider audience. This social marketing will contribute to raising ecological
awareness among their peers and may also inspire others to undertake similar actions.
