Article by Stella Saratsi, from Goethe-Institut Athen / image: Goethe-Institut, Athen
On Thursday, January 30th 2025, six members from our consortium, representing all partner organizations, along with five youth workers who have carried out community-based environmental projects in their respective localities, gathered at NaturFreundeJugend Deutschlands in Berlin, Germany. We had a challenging mission, to manage within two days to have our Optimization Workshop, during which youth workers would provide their input about the implementation phase and the enhancement of LOCALYs Toolkit content, to produce two podcasts, and to hold our project’s mid-term meeting. We are proud to say that we successfully accomplished all of these goals!
Our first day of work was truly one of a kind! We had the opportunity to work all together -regular team members and youth workers- and, in this way, create through our presence an actual representation of the essence of LOCALY project. Professionals with diverse backgrounds, living and working in totally different localities, had the chance to share environmental challenges, which appear at their surroundings, along with the opportunities that were generated through the projects. Specifically, youth workers shared the outcomes of their work during the implementation phase, highlighted the additional needs within their communities which emerged through their interventions, and offered ideas and strong intentions for creating even greater impact in the future.
For the second day, we decided to split into two separate groups. The LOCALYs Project consortium held its mid-term meeting, while the LOCALYs youth workers concentrated on contributing to the toolkit and producing two podcasts for the broader audience.
During the mid-term meeting, staff members from the partner organizations, we had the chance to reconnect after working together for over a year. It was an amazing opportunity to share and align our priorities, reflect on what worked well and what did not, and enable ourselves to use these insights to make clear and effective plans for the year ahead. It is important to highlight the invaluable impact that meeting in person has on the work we are creating. While online meetings are efficient and happen regularly, nothing can truly replace the experience of being together face-to-face. These in-person meetings help strengthen our team and foster deeper connections.
Meanwhile, the youth workers managed to produce two engaging podcasts in a very short time, offering the general public a glimpse into our work and the passion behind it. One podcast took the form of an interview, where the youth workers shared insights about their localities, revealing unique details that can only be understood by living in those areas. The other podcast followed a narrative structure, with each youth worker sharing the emotions and fears triggered by the climate crisis—an issue that resonated with the vast majority of the youngsters, across all the locations where the community projects were implemented.
In conclusion, the meeting was an incredibly productive and enriching experience for all involved. It provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and align our efforts toward achieving the project’s goals. Each discussion brought us closer to our shared vision, while also helping us develop clear, actionable strategies for the next phase. As we move forward, the energy and insights generated during this gathering will undoubtedly drive continued progress and innovative action. We are excited for the next steps, confident that the relationships and lessons we have gained will show us the direction leading to even greater impact.
