Legacy of the Soil: Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture

Legacy of the Soil: Sustainable Agriculture and Safe Food (Project No: 2024-3-ES02-KA153-YOU-000260774) was an Erasmus+ Mobility of Youth Workers project implemented by Green Behavior Youth Organization and coordinated by Generaciones Saludables España in Gijón, Spain, from 28 April to 5 May 2025. Bringing together participants from Turkey, Spain, Hungary, Poland, and Iceland, the project focused on strengthening youth workers’ knowledge and practical competences in sustainable agriculture, safe food production, organic farming, healthy nutrition, environmental protection, and climate-conscious lifestyles through a wide range of non-formal education activities.

Throughout the mobility, participants explored how individual choices can contribute to a healthier planet and healthier communities. Practical workshops on organic food, permaculture, seed-ball production, bread making, sustainable transportation, recycling, and food waste demonstrated that environmental sustainability begins with everyday habits. Interactive learning methods encouraged participants to transform theoretical knowledge into practical solutions while developing teamwork, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and intercultural cooperation.

The final learning experiences expanded these achievements by connecting sustainability with the local community. During the “Taste Trails” activity, participants discovered Gijón’s traditional breakfast culture through visits to local cafés, bakeries, and markets while engaging directly with residents and promoting the project’s environmental message. These encounters strengthened intercultural dialogue, highlighted the importance of supporting local food systems, and demonstrated how sustainable tourism and regional gastronomy can contribute to environmental awareness and community development.

Reflection and evaluation also played a key role in consolidating participants’ learning outcomes. Language self-assessment activities encouraged participants to recognize the progress they had made in English communication, intercultural interaction, and personal confidence throughout the project. Visits to important cultural and environmental landmarks in Gijón further reinforced the connection between sustainable urban development, cultural heritage, and environmental responsibility. Structured evaluation sessions enabled participants to critically assess their learning journey, identify challenges, and reflect on how the acquired knowledge could be transferred into future youth work initiatives.

Overall, Legacy of the Soil successfully equipped youth workers with practical tools, innovative educational methods, and a broader understanding of sustainable food systems. Participants left the project with stronger competences in climate awareness, organic agriculture, food safety, environmental responsibility, healthy nutrition, intercultural communication, and active citizenship. By combining experiential learning, cultural exchange, and community engagement, the project created a lasting network of motivated youth workers prepared to promote sustainable agriculture, safe food practices, and environmentally responsible lifestyles within their local communities across Europe.

Towards a Sustainable Future: The Impact and Achievements of the Project

Green Behavior Youth Organization participated as a partner in the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange project “For the Better: Sustainability” (Reference No: 2024-3-HU01-KA152-YOU-000267485), which brought together young people from Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Türkiye between 18–25 May 2025. The project aimed to increase young people's knowledge and awareness of sustainability, strengthen their sense of environmental responsibility, and encourage the adoption of sustainable lifestyles. Through activities focused on the protection of natural resources, renewable energy, waste management, recycling, sustainable consumption, and active citizenship, participants developed competencies that enable them to contribute to sustainable development both individually and within their communities.

Throughout the project, participants engaged in workshops, simulations, educational sessions, practical activities, and group work that allowed them to explore sustainability not only as a theoretical concept but also as a set of practices that can be applied in everyday life. Activities such as composting, recycling exercises, environmental awareness workshops, and discussions on resource conservation helped participants become more conscious of environmental challenges and the actions needed to address them.

The international environment of the project provided valuable opportunities for intercultural learning and exchange. Young people from different countries shared experiences, perspectives, and good practices related to sustainability in their communities. This exchange of ideas encouraged participants to explore diverse approaches to common environmental challenges while fostering respect for cultural diversity, cooperation, and mutual understanding.

The Youthpass process and regular reflection sessions enabled participants to recognize and evaluate their learning outcomes throughout the project. They strengthened key competences such as communication, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and learning to learn. These skills will continue to support their personal growth, educational development, and future professional opportunities.

“For the Better: Sustainability” provided a comprehensive learning experience that empowered young people to better understand their role in building a sustainable future. By the end of the project, participants had not only gained deeper knowledge of environmental issues but had also developed the motivation, confidence, and practical tools needed to promote sustainability, inspire positive change, and act as active citizens within their communities.

For the Better: Sustainability – From Natural Resources to Cultural Exchange 🌿

Green Behavior Youth Organization participated as a partner in the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange project “For the Better: Sustainability” (Reference No: 2024-3-HU01-KA152-YOU-000267485), which took place between 18–25 May 2025. Through non-formal learning methods, young people gained knowledge about sustainability while strengthening their skills in international cooperation, teamwork, and active citizenship.

Participants took part in the interactive educational game “Trees, People and Carbon Dioxide,” which explored environmental processes through experiential learning. Working in teams, they simulated the relationships between forests, carbon emissions, and climate change, helping them better understand the causes and consequences of environmental challenges. The activity combined movement, cooperation, and learning, creating an engaging atmosphere for all participants.

Workshops focused on the sustainability of natural resources encouraged participants to investigate different types of resources and present their findings through creative posters and group presentations. Discussions highlighted the importance of protecting water, soil, forests, and energy resources for future generations. These activities increased awareness of responsible resource management while also enhancing participants’ research and presentation skills.

Renewable energy workshops provided an opportunity to explore sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Participants designed and developed models inspired by wind turbines and solar panels, learning about the basic principles of clean energy production. The hands-on approach encouraged creativity, problem-solving, and a deeper understanding of renewable energy technologies and their role in building a more sustainable future.

A practical composting activity introduced participants to environmentally friendly ways of managing organic waste and producing natural fertilizer. Through this experience, they discovered how everyday waste can be transformed into a valuable resource and learned more about the principles of a circular economy. The intercultural evening created a space for participants to share traditions, food, music, and customs from their countries, strengthening intercultural understanding and enriching the overall learning experience of the project.