Published: April 21, 2025
On August 31st, 2024, the Erasmus+ GreenGuard project officially commenced, marking the beginning of an ambitious two-year journey dedicated to combating greenwashing and promoting genuine environmental awareness among youth. This significant initiative brings together partner organizations from Portugal, Germany, Italy, and Croatia, all committed to empowering young individuals and youth workers through innovative education and digital tools.
Shortly after the project's launch, from September 18th to 20th, the project partners convened for our inaugural work meeting hosted by Contextos, our Portuguese coordinator, in the beautiful coastal city of Faro, Algarve. This meeting was instrumental in setting the stage for our collaboration, defining clear roles, and laying out a comprehensive strategy to achieve the project objectives.
During these intensive days, representatives from Contextos (Portugal), Youth Power Germany e.V. (Germany), Istituto Universitario Carolina Albasio (Italy), and Pannonia Consulting (Croatia) engaged in dynamic discussions and workshops aimed at aligning our approaches to tackle greenwashing effectively. The participants collaboratively outlined detailed tasks and responsibilities, ensuring each partner's expertise and strengths would be fully utilized in project activities.
The partners laid the groundwork for the GreenProof initiative, focusing on non-formal education methodologies. Discussions covered the development of interactive and engaging educational modules and toolkits designed to empower young people and youth workers with the critical skills needed to discern and address greenwashing effectively.
The EcoNexus initiative, aimed at enhancing global intersectoral cooperation, was another key area explored during the meeting. The partners strategized ways to create a robust international network of stakeholders dedicated to environmental integrity, with a plan to facilitate meaningful collaboration and ongoing knowledge exchange beyond the project's lifespan.
As the meeting concluded, participants left Faro with renewed enthusiasm and a clear vision for the future. The foundations established in Portugal will serve as the cornerstone for GreenGuard’s subsequent activities, which promise significant impacts on youth empowerment, environmental awareness, and the fight against greenwashing across Europe.
