Daily Archives: 05/03/2026

CIRCFOOD – Circular Food Economy: Reducing waste and carbon footprint

CIRCFOOD – Circular Food Economy: Reducing waste and carbon footprint

Project Overview

Project: Circular Food Economy: Reducing Waste and Carbon Footprint (CIRCFOOD)

Duration: 01 September 2025 – 30 June 2027

Reference Nr. KA220-YOU-75FF526D

Grant Amount: 250,000 €

Funding Programme: Erasmus+ Programme – Key Action 2: Cooperation Partnerships in Youth

What's About

The Circular Food Economy: Reducing Waste and Carbon Footprint (CIRCFOOD) project is a European cooperation initiative aimed at empowering young people and youth workers to better understand and address the environmental challenges related to food waste and unsustainable consumption patterns.

 

Food waste represents a major environmental, economic, and social issue across Europe. Large quantities of food are lost or discarded throughout the food supply chain, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and inefficient use of natural resources. At the same time, many young people are increasingly concerned about climate change and sustainability but often lack accessible tools and knowledge to translate this awareness into concrete actions. Through non-formal education, research, and digital learning tools, the project promotes sustainable practices and encourages young people to become active contributors to a more circular and responsible food system.

 

By bringing together organisations from several European countries, the project fosters collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovative educational approaches that support the transition toward a greener and more sustainable Europe. The consortium combines expertise in youth work, education, sustainability, and digital learning in order to create resources that are both practical and accessible for youth organisations across Europe.

 

In addition to developing educational resources, the project aims to strengthen the role of youth work in addressing environmental challenges. Youth workers play a crucial role in shaping young people’s attitudes, behaviours, and civic engagement. By equipping youth workers with innovative tools and methodologies, the project supports the integration of sustainability topics into youth work activities and encourages young people to reflect on their everyday choices related to food consumption and waste.

 

The project also seeks to inspire behavioural change by encouraging young people to see themselves as active participants in building more sustainable communities. Through collaborative learning, digital tools, and international cooperation, participants will explore how circular economy principles can be applied to everyday life and how small changes in food consumption habits can contribute to reducing environmental impact at local and European levels.

 

The CIRCFOOD project aims to:

    • Raise awareness among young people about the environmental and social impact of food waste.

    • Strengthen the capacity of youth workers to educate young people on sustainability and circular economy principles.

    • Develop innovative educational resources focused on circular food systems and sustainable consumption.

    • Promote sustainable behaviours that contribute to reducing food waste and carbon footprint.

    • Create digital learning tools and platforms accessible to youth organisations across Europe.

    • Encourage youth participation in sustainability initiatives at local and European levels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Objectives

Project Activities

The project is structured around several key activities:

  • Research and Analysis

Partners will conduct research on young people’s attitudes toward food waste, sustainability, and circular economy practices across participating countries. The findings will help identify knowledge gaps and opportunities for educational intervention.

  • Development of Educational Materials

Based on the research results, the consortium will create educational resources and a toolkit designed to support youth workers in implementing sustainability-focused learning activities.

  • Digital Learning Platform

An interactive online platform will be developed to host training materials, learning modules, and digital tools that allow young people and youth workers to explore circular food economy concepts.

  • Capacity Building Activities

Training sessions and workshops will be organised for youth workers and young people to develop practical skills related to sustainable food systems and responsible consumption.

  • Dissemination and Awareness Campaigns

The project will promote its results through online campaigns, events, and communication activities aimed at raising awareness and engaging a wider audience in sustainable practices.

Expected Results and Impact

The CIRCFOOD project will produce several important results:

  • A comparative research report on youth perceptions of food waste and sustainability.

  • An educational toolkit for youth workers on circular food economy.

  • A digital learning platform providing open educational resources.

  • Interactive learning tools to support sustainability education.

  • Increased awareness among young people about sustainable food practices.

  • Strengthened cooperation between youth organisations across Europe.

 

Ultimately, the project aims to empower young people to become active agents of change in promoting sustainable food systems and reducing environmental impact.

Project Partners

 

The project brings together organisations with expertise in youth work, sustainability, and education from across Europe:

  • Associação Juvenil de Peniche – Portugal (Coordinator)

  • Poenta – Serbia

  • Learning Library OÜ – Estonia

  • Youth Power Germany e.V. – Germany

  • DOMAS – Croatia

 

Through this international collaboration, the consortium combines diverse experiences and perspectives to address the challenge of food waste from multiple angles.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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ACTIVATE – Active Citizens for a Stronger Europe

ACTIVATE – Active Citizens for a Stronger Europe

Project Overview

Project: Active Citizens for a Stronger Europe (ACTIVATE)
Duration: 01.01.2026 – 31.12.2027
Reference Nr.: 101253831
Grant Amount: €366,205 EUR
Funding Programme: Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) – Call CERV-2025-CITIZENS-CIV

What's About

ACTIVATE – Active Citizens for a Stronger Europe is a European cooperation project that aims to strengthen youth participation in democratic life and foster stronger connections between young citizens and democratic institutions across Europe.

 

The project engages young people aged 18–27, with a particular focus on those from marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds who often face barriers to civic and political participation. ACTIVATE responds to key challenges affecting democratic engagement today, including declining voter turnout among youth, limited opportunities for meaningful participation, and the growing influence of misinformation in digital spaces.

 

Through a series of participatory activities such as civic participation labs, media literacy workshops, storytelling activities, and creative civic forums, the project supports young people in developing civic competences, political literacy, and digital resilience. Participants explore democratic values, strengthen critical thinking skills, and gain practical tools to engage constructively in democratic processes and public dialogue.

 

ACTIVATE also promotes cross-border exchange and collaboration, enabling young people from different countries and backgrounds to share experiences and reflect on common democratic challenges in Europe.

 

The project culminates in the Youth Civic Vision Assembly, where participants simulate European-level decision-making and collaboratively develop the ACTIVATE Civic Manifesto, a youth-led document presenting recommendations for strengthening democratic participation, inclusion, and active citizenship across Europe.

 

Why ACTIVATE Matters

Across Europe, democratic participation among young people is uneven and often declining. Many young citizens feel disconnected from political institutions and believe that their voices are not sufficiently represented in decision-making processes. At the same time, the digital environment has made it easier for misinformation to spread, making it more difficult for young people to navigate political information and engage confidently in public debates.

 

ACTIVATE responds to these challenges by empowering young people with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to participate actively in democratic life. By combining civic education, digital literacy, and creative participation, the project helps young people understand democratic processes, develop critical thinking skills, and express their perspectives on issues that affect their communities and the future of Europe.

 

The project also creates opportunities for cross-border dialogue and collaboration, allowing young people from different countries and backgrounds to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and work together on common democratic challenges.

The ACTIVATE project aims to strengthen democratic participation among young people and empower them to play an active role in shaping the future of Europe. The project focuses on three main objectives:

 

  • Civic Empowerment and Participation

ACTIVATE equips young people with the knowledge, tools, and confidence needed to engage in democratic processes and civic life. Through participatory activities and educational workshops, participants learn about democratic institutions, electoral processes, and ways to actively contribute to public debates and decision-making.

 

  • Digital Resilience and Media Literacy

In an increasingly digital political environment, ACTIVATE supports young people in developing critical thinking and media literacy skills. Participants learn how to recognize misinformation, evaluate information sources, and participate responsibly in online democratic discussions.

 

  • Inclusive Youth Advocacy

The project amplifies the voices of marginalized and underrepresented young people, ensuring that their perspectives are included in democratic dialogue. Through cross-border exchanges and collaborative activities, ACTIVATE creates opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds to share experiences, express their ideas, and contribute to policy discussions at local, national, and European levels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Objectives

Project RESULT and IMPACT

ACTIVATE aims to create both immediate learning opportunities for participants and long-term contributions to youth participation in Europe.

Through the project, young people will take part in a range of participatory activities, including civic participation labs, media literacy workshops, storytelling sessions, and creative civic forums. These activities will provide practical tools for engaging with democratic processes and encourage youth-led dialogue on civic issues.

 

One of the key outputs of the project will be the ACTIVATE Civic Manifesto, a youth-authored document developed during the international Youth Civic Vision Assembly. The manifesto will present recommendations from young participants on how democratic participation, inclusion, and civic engagement can be strengthened across Europe.

 

The project will also generate educational materials, toolkits, and creative outputs produced by young participants, helping to share their experiences and perspectives with a wider audience.

 

By the end of the project, ACTIVATE aims to:

  • strengthen civic competences and political literacy among young people

  • increase youth awareness of democratic processes and institutions

  • promote digital resilience and critical media literacy

  • amplify the voices of young people in democratic dialogue at local, national, and European levels

 

Through these outcomes, ACTIVATE contributes to building a more engaged, informed, and active generation of European citizens.

Partners

ACTIVATE is implemented by a consortium of civil society organisations, training institutions, and international partners working together to strengthen youth participation in democratic life across Europe.

 

Project partners include:

  • CIFAL Málaga (Spain) – Project Coordinator

  • CIEDES – Centro de Investigaciones Estratégicas y de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Málaga (Spain)

  • Public International Business College Mitrovica – IBCM (Kosovo)

  • Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci (Italy)

  • Nemzeti Ifjúsági Tanács – National Youth Council (Hungary)

  • Bakcsó Nature and Cultural Association (Hungary)

  • Antwerp International Training Center on Corporate Opportunities – ITCCO (Belgium)

  • Youth Power Germany e.V. (Germany)

  • UNITAR – United Nations Institute for Training and Research (Switzerland)

 

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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