Project Report:
Youth Exchange of the project GreenTech Youth Catalyst
6 – 12 July 2025
Vlasotince | Serbia
Project Report:
From July 6 to 12, 2025, the town of Vlasotince, Serbia hosted an international youth exchange within the Erasmus+ project GreenTech Youth Catalyst. The activity was coordinated by the hosting organization IMPULS (RS) and brought together 20 young people from the Czech Republic, France, Serbia and Portugal.
The youth exchange was designed to support the project’s main objectives:
→ strengthening green and digital competences among young people;
→ encouraging civic engagement;
→enhancing international cooperation between partner organizations;
→ and involving newcomers in the Erasmus+ network.
The design of the program was based on the GreenComp framework (European Sustainability Competence Framework) and used a wide range of non-formal education methods, including experiential learning, peer-to-peer exchange, creative tasks, group work, and digital tool application.
What did we do?
The exchange gathered a diverse group of 20 participants from 4 countries who engaged in an 8-day program addressing sustainability, active citizenship, digital education, and intercultural learning. The activities were designed to reach the program’s intended learning outcomes, with daily reflection sessions and continuous adaptation of the program based on the participants’ feedback.
Participants explored the local context through field-based tasks, engaged in analytical and creative group activities, and developed solutions to environmental issues the identified together. Specific attention was given to promoting local action, youth initiative, and the application of digital tools such as Canva, Padlet and Mentimeter to enhance learning and communication.
Intercultural exchange was facilitated through shared experiences, group dynamics, and cultural evenings organized by all the national teams. Collaboration between the organizations was further strengthened by cooperative facilitation responsibilities and daily reviews.
An important component of the exchange was its contribution to the ongoing development of the project’s Open Educational Resource (OER). Several educational activities and digital tools used during the youth exchange were piloted for inclusion in the OER, which will serve as a freely accessible toolkit for sustainability education.
DAY 1: Exploring sustainability & GreenComp, creative learning through upcycling
Participants were introduced to the GreenComp model, which served as the educational foundation of the project. Through workshops and materials from the existing Open Educational Resource (OER), including the Valuing Sustainability and Problem Framing workshops, young people reflected on their personal understanding of sustainability and explored local environmental challenges. At the same time, they provided valuable feedback to the organizers on the OER, which will be used to further improve and refine these resources.
In a lively session, participants explored the world of upcycling and the impact of fast fashion while giving their old clothes a creative new life. For many, it was their very first experience with upcycling, making it an exciting opportunity to pick up new skills such as sewing, designing, and transforming garments into something unique. The session concluded with a small showcase, where participants presented their creations and shared brief stories behind them, sparking thoughtful discussions on mindful consumption and environmental responsibility.
„I took away a lot of new information regarding sustainability and recycling. I also gained new experience with other cultures.“ – Matyáš (CZ)
DAY 2: Nature connection & eco-mindfulness, problem framing
The youth participated in a silent walk through the natural surroundings of Vlasotince, engaging in nature-based activities such as meditation and mindful observation. Each participant selected an object from nature and reflected on its personal and ecological significance. These activities were designed to strengthen their emotional connection to the environment and inspire reflection on their own habits and ecological values.
In the afternoon, the young people participated in a session about Problem framing, where they learned how to identify how daily actions impact nature, frame these issues as sustainability problems, and inspire personal and collective commitments to protect and reconnect with the natural world.
„I enjoyed the meditation and the silent walk led by Eylül (ADRIBS) the most, as it allowed us to connect more deeply with nature.“ – Tereza (CZ)
DAY 3: Photovoice of Vlasotince and digital literacy
Using the Photovoice method, participants explored the town of Vlasotince to document both environmental challenges and examples of sustainable practices. They captured issues such as plastic pollution, general waste, and the presence of numerous stray dogs. For each issue, they also proposed possible solutions. At the same time, participants highlighted the advantages of life in a small town like Vlasotince, including the beauty of the Vlasina River and the availability of local, organic food.
In the aftermoon, participants learned how to verify information and developed strategies to identify and counter disinformation and greenwashing in the media.
These sessions strengthened their digital skills and critical thinking and also resulted in concrete campaign outputs that are going to be used for dissemination for the project.
DAY 4: City hall advocacy, sustainability campaigns
The findings from the previous day’s Photovoice activity were used by the participants to create and compile proposals into a digital briefing. These proposals were presented during a meeting with local representatives at the Vlasotince City Hall, attended by the Mayor, the city’s Chief officer for ecology and sustainability, and an official representative of the local youth. The session was successful and it left the participants with a sense of accomplishment and providing local authorities with a clear, youth perspective on environmental challenges and opportunities for improvement.
Furthermore, the participants worked in national teams, focusing on environmental issues specific to their local communities. Using digital tools such as Canva and Padlet, they designed their own online sustainability campaigns, which were shared online in cooperation with their sending organizations in the weeks following the youth exchange.
DAY 5: Action in the streets, sharing sustainable practices
In coordination with the Vlasina Fest organizers (a vibrant summer festival held on the city lake in the heart of Vlasotince, featuring music, concerts, cultural events, and local food), participants carried out a riverbank clean-up at a site known as Maričkino, just a day before the festival began. This initiative not only improved the surroundings for the festival but also raised awareness among residents and visitors about keeping public spaces clean.
The action was warmly received by the local community, and with the support of the municipal cleaning service, over 20 bags of waste were collected and properly disposed of. By engaging participants and locals in this common effort, the activity reinforced the value of community-based environmental initiatives and demonstrated the positive impact of youth involvement in community events.
In the afternoon, the participants went through a workshop aimed on discussing, sharing and promoting among each other sustainable practices that they apply in their everyday life. Through icebreakers, discussion, sharing and group work, they were inspired by sustainable practices of the others, they refreshed on their own practices and got encouraged to further expand and improve their daily actions.
„It is important to motivate people who have not yet thought about the issue of ecology and to show them concrete examples where change could happen.“ – Martina (CZ)
DAY 6: Next steps after the youth exchange, Voices of Vlasotince
In the morning, participants were working in their national teams to develop concepts of the local follow up activities to be carried out after the mobility. They would present the final ideas and next steps needed for a successful implementation to the rest of the group.
In the afternoon, as part of the Vlasina Fest activities, participants took part in an initiative called Voices of Vlasotince, where they interviewed local residents about the town’s sustainability, environmental challenges, and potential solutions. Through these conversations, young people gathered valuable feedback from citizens, emphasizing Vlasotince’s strengths and natural beauties worth preserving, as well as the issues that require urgent attention.
The activity also encouraged civic engagement through an open dialogue within the community and project participants. Afterwards, the youth reflected on the experience by comparing the locals’ perspectives with their own views on the town’s environmental and social challenges, and so they improved their understanding and empathy for the community they engaged with.
DAY 7: Youthpass certificate, European opportunities, assessment and closure
On the last day, participants completed learning assessments, received their Youthpass certificates, and engaged in an interactive workshop to explore European opportunities for the youth.
Next steps
Following the exchange, participants will carry out dissemination activities in their local communities, sharing insights and tools from the program. The tested activities and digital tools will be refined and incorporated into the final version of the GreenTech Youth Catalyst OER, which aims to support educators and youth workers across Europe.
The youth exchange helped strengthen the collaboration between partner organizations and contributed to building the capacities of the hosting team. Most importantly, it empowered a group of young people to take an active role in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future.
„From this project, I definitely took away new perspectives on the world. When it comes to a visual point of view, I realized that not everywhere looks the same. Although Serbia is located in Europe, it feels very different to me. I also gained a new perspective on sustainability. Several times after the project ended, I caught myself stopping during my personal and professional life and thinking: “This really isn’t environmentally friendly. What could I do about it?” – Zuzka (CZ)
The project GreenTech Youth Catalyst is co-funded by the European Union.
