Hold Your Breath: Young Environmental Leaders Gather in Milan to Tackle Air Pollution

In August 2025, representatives from Green Behavior Youth Organization joined young environmental leaders from Italy, Lithuania, Hungary, and Turkey for the Erasmus+ project “Hold Your Breath: Air Pollution (2025-1-IT03-KA153-YOU-000299023)” in Milan, Italy. The project took place from 9–15 August 2025 and focused on one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges — air pollution.

🌍 A Week of Learning, Sharing, and Action

Throughout the week, 40 youth workers aged 18–30 came together to deepen their understanding of air pollution, its sources, and its effects on both health and the environment. The sessions were designed to combine scientific learning, creativity, and leadership development.

Participants explored key environmental topics, including:

• The global impact of air pollution and climate change

• Health consequences of poor air quality

• Effective communication and awareness strategies

• Successful international examples of pollution reduction

Interactive workshops and discussions provided participants with tools to translate knowledge into community action. They also had the opportunity to explore Milan’s cultural and historical heritage, reinforcing the connection between sustainable living and appreciation for local environments.

💡 Empowering Future Leaders

Our Icelandic participants were particularly inspired by the emphasis on youth leadership and digital advocacy. During the social media workshop, they developed strategies to communicate environmental messages effectively and encourage behavior change through storytelling and online campaigns.

By the end of the project, all participants created personal and group action plans, outlining steps to raise awareness and reduce air pollution back home. These plans will guide their future initiatives and help spread sustainable practices throughout their communities.

🌱 A Lasting Impact

“Hold Your Breath” not only strengthened the participants’ environmental knowledge but also fostered a spirit of international cooperation. The friendships and networks built in Milan will serve as a foundation for future environmental collaborations across Europe.

Green Behavior Youth Organization is proud to have been part of this meaningful experience, empowering Icelandic youth to become advocates for a cleaner, healthier planet.

Our Experience in Hungary: “For the Better: Sustainability” Youth Exchange

Between 18 and 25 May 2025, Green Behavior Youth Organization took part in an inspiring Erasmus+ youth exchange titled “For the Better: Sustainability,” hosted in Budapest, Hungary. The project gathered 48 young participants and 6 organizations from Hungary, Turkey, Portugal, Romania, Latvia, and Iceland, all sharing one mission — to learn, share, and act for a greener and more sustainable world.

Why This Project Mattered

As an organization dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and green lifestyles among youth in Iceland, participating in this project perfectly aligned with our values.

The project aimed to raise awareness about the importance of sustainability, responsible consumption, and protection of natural resources. It also encouraged young people to take action against climate change and to adopt eco-friendly habits in their everyday lives.

Beyond its environmental focus, the project promoted intercultural understanding, collaboration, and inclusion, providing a unique opportunity for participants to connect and learn from each other’s cultures and perspectives.

The week in Budapest was filled with interactive workshops, creative sessions, and cultural exchanges.

Every participant left Budapest with new ideas, motivation, and awareness.

Our Icelandic team members shared that the experience made them more conscious of how individual actions contribute to global change. They also improved their leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, while gaining a stronger sense of European identity and solidarity.

As an organization, Green Behavior Youth Organization gained valuable experience in international collaboration and environmental education. The project helped us strengthen our network with European partners and inspired us to launch new local initiatives focused on youth-led sustainability projects in Iceland.

New Erasmus+ Project Approved! Green Behavior Launches “Roots and the Future: Environmental Sustainability through Archaeobotany” 🌍

We are proud to announce that Green Behavior Youth Organization has been awarded Erasmus+ funding in the 2025 first application round for an exciting new youth exchange project:

Project Title: Roots and the Future: Environmental Sustainability through Archaeobotany

Project Reference: 2025-1-IS01-KA152-YOU-000297094

Project Type: Erasmus+ KA152 Youth Exchange

This project marks a new milestone in our efforts to engage youth in environmental sustainability and intercultural dialogue through creative, science-based learning.

“Roots and the Future” focuses on archaeobotany—the study of ancient plant remains—to explore how early societies interacted with nature, cultivated ecosystems, and adapted to environmental changes. Through this lens, young participants will reflect on how the past can guide present and future actions for sustainability.

We are excited to bring together enthusiastic young participants and youth workers from the following countries:

• 🇮🇸 Iceland 

• 🇹🇷 Türkiye

• 🇭🇷 Croatia

• 🇬🇪 Georgia

• 🇺🇦 Ukraine

This diverse international team will come together in Iceland to explore the intersection of history, environment, and innovation—while also experiencing rich intercultural exchange and building lifelong connections.

Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare to welcome our partners and participants!

Let’s explore our roots and grow the future—together. 🌍