If you are young and look to the future with hope and determination, YES-SI‘s initiatives are for you! Imagine five intense and exciting days spent in Barcelona together with peers from all over Europe, immersed in an atmosphere of growth, innovation and change: that’s what the project organized Feb. 19-23 at a training event. Young people from Greece, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland met here to develop strategies and projects for change. The host organization, 3IN Social, provided excellent hospitality, creating an ideal environment for collaboration and learning.
5 days of growth and innovation
The event kicked off with engaging team-building activities that allowed participants to get to know each other and build trust within the group. Next, they delved into the world of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), exploring the connections between these global challenges and their personal interests.
Inspired by this newfound awareness, the young people formed groups based on the SDGs they were passionate about addressing. Through dynamic activities such as the “Ikigai” exercise, the “5 Whys,” and the “Problem Tree,” they deeply analyzed the challenges related to their chosen goals. This approach facilitated targeted brainstorming and the search for innovative solutions.
Developing Concrete Projects
Participants had the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the key factors in choosing the right crowdfunding platform. After brainstorming and idea-sharing sessions, they created crowdfunding posters that were presented and discussed with the entire group, receiving valuable feedback to further refine their projects.
The last day focused on delivering concise and effective presentations. Using the “Elevator Pitch” activity, the young people developed their public speaking skills and had the opportunity to present their ideas to facilitators and peers. This process allowed them to gain constructive feedback and develop collaborative strategies for implementing their projects.
The Ideas of the YES-SI Changemakers
The event saw the birth of several innovative and promising ideas from the young participants:
- “Hungerminators” is a co-creation lab that aims to bridge the gap between food waste and the Zero Hunger Goal (SDG 2). Their mission is to raise awareness and educate people about these issues through outreach activities, social media campaigns, culinary initiatives, and research.
- “The Other Side of the Coin” is an activist action aimed at reducing individualism, in line with the SDG of Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16). Through an exhibition of photos and paintings of individuals, the project aims to raise awareness and educate about the importance of inclusion and respect for diversity.
- “Strong Together” is a website that offers FLINTA* (women and LGBTQIA+) people resources and opportunities in their city, such as self-defense courses, job opportunities, and psychological support. The project aims to combat inequality and violence against women and LGBTQIA+ people, in line with the SDG of Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).
What the future holds
The enthusiasm and commitment of the young participants in the Barcelona event are truly contagious. We can’t wait to see how they will present their ideas and projects at the final conference in Erfurt!
The event once again demonstrated the potential of young people to make a real contribution to positive change. Thanks to their commitment and innovative ideas, we can build a more sustainable and just future for all.
About the project
YES-SI Youth Empowerment for Social Inclusion is a project funded by Erasmus+ programme (KA220-YOU – Cooperation partnerships in youth).
Partners
- Verein zur sozialen und beruflichen Integration e.V. (Germany, coordinator)
- STIMMULI FOR SOCIAL CHANGE (Greece)
- 3 INNOVATION HIVE(Greece)
- Asociación para el Estudio y Promoción del Bienestar Socia (Spain)
- Social Enterprise International Tuatha Ltd (Ireland)
- CESIE (Italy)
For further information
Read more about the project and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Contatct Enrico Casacchia: enrico.casacchia@cesie.org.
