Empowering Youth Through Action: A Community-Based Project in Chania, Crete

by Eleni Antoniadou, Youth Worker, Ecogenia

Working with young people is a constant reminder of their ability to transform ideas into meaningful action. Recently, I had the honor of supporting students from the 1st Experimental Junior High School of Chania as part of the Erasmus+ LOCALY Project. This initiative empowered students to learn, lead, and take action, demonstrating how environmental citizenship can inspire and unite a community.

Using activities from the LOCALY Toolkit, the students not only deepened their understanding of climate change and environmental sustainability but also learned how to create and implement projects on their own. Since October, they engaged in weekly sessions during which they explored what it means to take initiative, design a project, and work collaboratively to achieve their goals. These experiences cultivated skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and project management —tools that will serve them well far beyond this initiative.

Find your Climate Superpower

 

Their chosen community-based project was to clean the small forest of Agioi Apostoloi, a beloved local natural area in Chania, in Crete. This idea came entirely from the students themselves, showcasing their ability to identify needs within their community and take ownership of addressing them.

On the day of the clean-up, the students’ energy and dedication were nothing short of inspiring. Their enthusiasm radiated as they scoured the forest, determined to make a difference. Together with supportive parents who joined the effort, they worked tirelessly, collecting an impressive 22 bags of waste. Among the debris, they found all sorts of discarded items—plastic bottles and bags, old tires, broken glass, rusted metal scraps, and other trash that had been carelessly left behind over the years. Each piece they picked up revealed the extent of human neglect but also fueled their determination to restore the forest to its natural beauty. By the end of the day, their hard work had transformed the area into a cleaner, healthier space.

This tangible result was a testament to the power of youth-led action, proving that collective effort can bring about meaningful change.

What made this experience even more special was the students’ creativity. A group of girls composed and performed a song about recycling and public awareness, accompanied by a violin performance at the end of the activity. Their artistic expression not only celebrated the project’s success but also demonstrated how environmental action can inspire and connect people on multiple levels.

This project reinforced a vital truth: active citizenship is learned by doing. Through the LOCALY Toolkit, these students were empowered to design and lead their own initiatives, developing the confidence and capacity to make a difference. They also demonstrated the importance of teaching and inspiring others, setting an example for their peers and younger generations.

As youth workers, educators, and community members, it is our responsibility to nurture this potential. Programs like Erasmus+ are essential for providing young people with the tools, resources, and opportunities to become leaders in addressing the challenges we face. Climate action, in particular, calls for the energy, innovation, and commitment of today’s youth.

This experience with the students of Chania reminded me once again why I am so passionate about working with young people. Their boundless energy, creativity, and unwavering optimism have the power to inspire even the most seasoned among us. They possess a unique ability to reimagine the future—not as it is, but as it could be—and the drive to take concrete steps towards making that vision a reality. Watching them take ownership of this initiative, tackling challenges with determination and collaborating to achieve a common goal, was truly uplifting.

Let us continue to support and invest in initiatives like these, which provide young people with opportunities to practice active citizenship and realize their potential as changemakers. By encouraging their efforts, we amplify their voices and empower them to take the lead in building a better tomorrow. The future depends on their vision, creativity, and courage, and it is our responsibility to stand beside them, offering guidance, resources, and encouragement to help them bring that vision to life. Together, we can foster a generation of leaders who will rise to meet the challenges of the world with hope and determination.

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