In September 2022 the “Youth International Meeting for Climate Justice” took place in Senegal. Participants from six different European and African countries participated in the youth exchange, which lasted two weeks. They were all living together, sharing their knowledge and culture with each other.
During these two weeks, they stayed in St. Louis and at the Naturefriend’s house in Dakar. They got to visit the Island of Gorée, which from the 15th to the 19th century, was the largest slave-trading center on the African coast. They also participated in planting and restoring the mangrove ecosystem in St Louis and participated in workshops about climate justice.
The second youth exchange activity that took place in May 2023 in a Naturefriends' house in Tuscany. It brought together young people to address environmental issues, particularly those related to the Solvay industry.
Participants created multimedia content, including a video titled "Naturefriends goes Baywatch," which highlighted the environmental impact of the Solvay plant and its socio-economic effects on the local community. The exchange focused on raising awareness about industrial pollution and climate justice.
The "Greening International Youth Mobilities" training course was a key event held from 2nd-8th October 2023 in Asturias, Spain. The training aimed to teach youth mobility project organizers how to reduce the negative environmental impact of international youth programs. It used diverse non-formal learning methods, including collective intelligence, group work, nature immersions, and open space activities. It was particularly impactful, covering topics such as systems thinking, Dragon Dreaming project management methodology, and practical approaches to working with budgets and project concepts.
Participants reported that they would apply learnings such as considering environmental aspects, using new methodologies, and integrating sustainability from the project planning stage. These events were crucial components of the project, providing hands-on experience and practical skills for implementing more sustainable practices in international youth work.