Youth exchange: Nurturing Earth and Wellbeing, Vienna

Nurturing Earth and Wellbeing was an Erasmus+ youth exchange held in Vienna from 1 to 8 August 2024, travel days included. It was coordinated by Ecological Future Education from Latvia, with EMOTiC as partner and host, and united around 40 participants from eight countries, young people and their group leaders. The other partners were IMPRESS (Croatia), Active Green Solution (Greece), Eurotender Egyesület (Hungary), Asociația Kasta Morrely (Romania), EYCB (Czechia) and LevelUp (Poland).

Why this exchange

Our relationship with the environment shapes both our physical and mental health, and the project started from a clear observation: climate anxiety is one of the most pressing problems affecting young people today. This youth exchange, the first in a series tackling environmental issues and other social, economic and global questions that matter to young people, built knowledge and skills in sustainability, food, nutrition and mental health.

Three strands

The programme rested on three strands: theoretical knowledge of sustainable food systems, practical skills in urban agriculture, and emotional and cognitive practices for mental health. Participants explored restorative urban agriculture, permaculture and locally grown food, and how urban agriculture compares with monoculture farming in its environmental impact. The programme covered the practical skills needed to grow, tend and sustain edible plants, combining these nature-based practices with mindfulness, psychological insights and reconnection tools.

Day by day

Each day had its own theme: introduction and background, environmental risks and impact, urban agriculture and community gardens, reconnection with ourselves and nature, exploring the bigger climate picture, and finally bringing everything together. Before arriving, each national group was asked to choose a topic from a pre-selected list and prepare a 30-minute presentation, which could include short exercises, games and activities, to deliver during the programme.

How we learned

Learning followed three principles: learning by experience, learning to play and playing to learn, and learning through the outdoors, with healthy-living topics explored while being physically involved with nature. Participants were invited to bring games, songs, dances, food and traditions to represent their country at the intercultural evening.

Aims and learning outcomes

The aims included reconnecting with nature, building community, creating space to voice environmental concerns, and giving participants practical, solution-focused tools to use after the project. Expected learning outcomes included a deeper emotional connection with nature, a better understanding of the environmental impact of agriculture and the food industry, and the confidence to take personal action and engage the local community.

Before and after Vienna

The project followed three stages: preparation from 20 June 2024, the week in Vienna, and local follow-up projects in participants' home communities in September 2024. Participants were aged 18–25, or 15–25 for local participants from Austria, and no previous experience of Erasmus+ or sustainable development was needed.