ECOESCAPE

Context and objectives

ECOESCAPE strengthens the capacity of youth organisations to use interactive, digital and non-formal learning to educate young people about sustainable development, the circular economy, responsible consumption and green public procurement. The project combines research, organisational learning, youth co-creation, digital development, international exchange and dialogue with public authorities.

Main objectives

• Strengthen organisational capacity through training in storytelling, digital tools, creative methods and anthropological approaches.
• Develop and digitise the EcoEscape educational game.
• Improve the digital and methodological competences of youth workers.
• Adapt the game to Latvian and Spanish contexts.
• Strengthen international cooperation between Latvia and Spain.
• Connect research, policy and youth-work practice.
• Generate evidence and recommendations for local authorities.
• Increase young people's knowledge and participation in sustainability processes.

Erasmus+ priorities

• Environment and fight against climate change.
• Increasing quality, innovation and recognition of youth work.
• Reinforcing links between policy, research and practice.

Topics

• Quality and innovation of youth work.
• Green skills.
• International relations and development cooperation.

Main activities

• Preliminary research: survey young people in Latvia and Spain on sustainable development, the circular economy and the environment; compile good practices from local governments; compare Latvian and Spanish evidence.
• Organisational capacity-building courses: storytelling, digital tools, creative methods, youth communication and non-formal education, including reaching young people in digital environments and communicating sustainable-development issues.
• Sustainability Dinners: dialogue events involving young people to discuss consumption and waste reduction, feeding youth contributions into the content of the EcoEscape game and enabling interaction between young people, youth workers and policy actors.
• Development and digitisation: develop methodological materials, digitise the EcoEscape game, adapt it to Latvian and Spanish educational and cultural contexts, test it with young people, improve its accessibility and relevance, and create Latvian, Spanish and English versions.
• International exchange: knowledge-transfer and exchange visits in Latvia and Spain, joint organisational learning, and testing of methods in Northern and Southern European contexts.
• Promotion and closing activities: promotion at the Kopums festival, youth forums, local-government forums, professional networks, closing events and youth-policy events.
• Compilation and use of results: a comparative report and recommendations, disseminated through national and international networks and integrated into youth-work practice.

INDEED Projects’ role

INDEED Projects is a partner organisation in ECOESCAPE, leading youth engagement and major parts of methodology development, with a particular focus on interactive methods and the Spanish context.

• Lead youth engagement.
• Lead major parts of methodology development.
• Focus particularly on interactive methods.
• Adapt interactive tools to the Spanish context.
• Carry out surveys and focus groups with young people in Spain.
• Contribute digital approaches for non-formal education.
• Guide the digitalisation and testing of the game.
• Help ensure the game is accessible and relevant to diverse youth groups.
• Involve young people in co-creation and testing.
• Contribute experience in eco-clubs, green skills and educational games.
• Connect environmental justice, digital education and youth empowerment.
• Participate in content development.
• Disseminate results among youth organisations and relevant public actors.