Green Shift: Promoting Sustainable Practices & Lifestyle to the Youth
DAY 1: Welcome to Green Shift!
The first stage of “Green Shift: Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles & Practices to Young People” officially began with a warm welcome from our wonderful partners, Creative Youth Armenia. Participants from Armenia, Malta, Estonia, Egypt, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, and Greece came together for the start of this meaningful project.
The day began with a fun and interactive session designed to help participants get to know one another, build connections, and exchange ideas. Everyone had the opportunity to share their own understanding and definition of sustainability, creating an engaging discussion based on different perspectives and experiences.
Participants were also introduced to the three main pillars of sustainability: Economic, Environmental, and Social. This provided a foundation for understanding how sustainable development requires a balance between protecting the environment, supporting society, and maintaining economic well-being.
Day 2 of “Green Shift: Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles & Practices to Young People” focused on deepening our understanding of sustainability and its importance in everyday life.
Participants continued exploring the three pillars of sustainability—Economic, Environmental, and Social—and examined how these principles can be applied in different areas of society, including:
Households
Workplaces
Education
Wider society
The day also featured an engaging Sustainability Debate, where participants discussed the advantages and challenges of adopting sustainable practices in each of these settings. Through lively discussions and the exchange of different perspectives, participants demonstrated their knowledge, critical-thinking skills, and passion for creating more sustainable communities.
DAY 3: Exploring Sustainability Frameworks
On the third day of “Green Shift: Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles & Practices to Young People,” participants explored different sustainability frameworks and examined the important contributions of youth workers, social workers, and non-governmental organizations in promoting sustainable development.
The key frameworks introduced during the sessions included:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Triple Bottom Line (TBL)
Circular Economy
Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
ISO 14001 Environmental Management System
Natural Step Framework
B Corp Certification
In the afternoon, participants discussed country-specific sustainability challenges related to the three pillars—economic, environmental, and social. They shared examples of best and worst practices from their respective countries, creating an opportunity to compare different approaches and experiences.
The discussions provided valuable insights into the diverse sustainability challenges faced by different regions and highlighted the importance of sharing knowledge and effective practices across countries.
𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐬 & 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝟐 St. Paul’s Bay, Malta
Day 1 – 10 November 2024: Welcome Back to Green Shift!
The second stage of “Green Shift: Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles & Practices to Young People” began in St. Paul’s Bay, Malta, bringing together returning participants from Malta, Armenia, Estonia, Egypt, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, and Greece who had taken part in the first stage of the project.
We were also pleased to welcome Rachel Lambert from the United Kingdom as a guest facilitator. With more than 20 years of experience in environmental education, Rachel has worked extensively with children in urban environments and is also an award-winning author of four books focusing on foraging and cooking.
The morning began with ice-breaking and team-building activities, helping participants reconnect with those from the first stage while welcoming new members. The group then revisited the knowledge and lessons gained during Stage 1, focusing on how these ideas could be transformed into practical action. Participants were introduced to the “3 P’s of Sustainability—People, Planet, and Profit,” alongside the previously explored three pillars of sustainability.
During the afternoon, participants took part in a mapping activity designed to explore the current state of sustainability within their respective countries and organizations. They also had the opportunity to share their experiences, aspirations, and visions for a more sustainable future, highlighting both the similarities and differences between the participating countries.
Day 2 – 11 November 2024: Global Success & Sustainability Insights ✨🌟
The second day was filled with inspiring success stories and sustainability experiences shared by participants from the nine participating countries. The sessions focused on understanding what makes a project meaningful and impactful, with discussions highlighting the importance of practical ideas, effective planning, circular thinking, systems-based approaches, accessibility, collaboration, and education.
Participants also revisited the three pillars of sustainability and explored how these principles can be incorporated into successful projects and initiatives. A peer-sharing session led by Christianne Santos from WeGen Energy Philippines / WeGeneration Initiative Foundation provided valuable insights into green initiatives, environmental campaigns, and creative challenges that are helping promote sustainable practices in the Philippines.
The day concluded with a hands-on analytics workshop followed by interactive group discussions. These activities provided participants with practical tools and strategies to improve the effectiveness and impact of their future projects.
It was an inspiring and productive day that left everyone motivated to apply what they had learned and turn new ideas into meaningful action for sustainability.
Day 3 – 12 November 2024: Project Building & Sustainability Insights in Malta ✨🌟
The third day of the Green Shift project focused on developing project ideas and gaining a deeper understanding of sustainability practices in Malta.
The morning began with an interactive “Walk the Line” activity, where participants worked step by step to develop their projects by identifying and defining the three main stages: beginning, middle, and final phases. Participants first worked in international groups, exchanging questions, ideas, and feedback with members from different countries. They then brought these insights back to their respective teams, allowing them to strengthen their project concepts and explore different approaches to project development.
In the afternoon, the group visited the WasteServ EcoHive Academy in Marsaskala, where participants learned more about Malta’s waste-management and sustainability practices. The visit introduced innovative approaches to waste management, including waste-to-energy strategies involving landfills and household waste.
The day concluded with an introduction to Malta’s natural environment and sustainability initiatives, giving participants a greater appreciation of the island’s unique landscapes and its efforts toward sustainable living.
Overall, the day provided a valuable combination of project development, international knowledge-sharing, and practical sustainability learning, leaving participants inspired to continue improving their projects and ideas.
Day 4 – 13 November 2024: Exploring Malta’s Nature and Sustainable Practices ✨🗺️
The fourth day of the Green Shift project gave participants the opportunity to explore Malta’s natural environment, cultural heritage, and relationship with sustainability through different educational activities.
Participants were divided into groups, each visiting a different location to learn more about Malta’s unique environmental and cultural characteristics. One group explored the salt pans of Gozo, discovering the ecological importance of salt marshlands and traditional salt production. Another group visited the Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Archaeological Park, where they learned about the preservation of approximately 6,000-year-old megalithic structures and Malta’s rich historical heritage.
Meanwhile, another group visited the Blue Grotto, exploring its natural caves, coastal environment, and remarkable landscapes.
These experiences provided participants with a closer look at Malta’s natural resources, cultural heritage, and environmental realities. The visits also encouraged participants to reflect on how local characteristics and practices can influence approaches to sustainability and inspire new ideas for their own communities.
Day 5 – 14 November 2024: Salina Nature Reserve & Gantt Chart Planning 🍀🗓️
The fifth day of the Green Shift project combined environmental exploration, cultural heritage, and practical project-management skills.
Participants visited the Salina Nature Reserve, where they learned about Malta’s distinctive ecosystem and the historical importance of its salt pans. The guided visit provided insights into endangered species, habitat restoration, and the role of the salt pans in supporting local biodiversity. Participants also gained a greater appreciation for the ongoing efforts to protect and preserve Malta’s natural environment.
The group also explored the nearby Salina Catacombs, discovering fascinating information about the communities that inhabited the area during the latter part of the first millennium AD. The experience offered a unique combination of history, nature, and sustainability.
In the afternoon, the focus shifted toward project planning and management. Participants were introduced to the use of Gantt charts as a practical tool for organizing activities, setting timelines, and achieving project objectives. The session emphasized the importance of regularly reviewing and updating the chart, as well as incorporating separate planning and monitoring sessions.
These adjustments help ensure that project activities remain organized, flexible, and aligned with their intended goals, giving participants valuable tools to effectively manage and implement their sustainability projects.
Day 6 – 15 November 2024: Advocacy, Problem-Solving & Sustainability Lessons 🌳📢
The sixth day of the Green Shift project focused on environmental advocacy, strategic planning, and creative problem-solving.
The morning began with activities centered on advocating for nature. Participants worked in small groups to brainstorm ideas for environmental campaigns and develop meaningful, attention-grabbing slogans. The session also introduced the Business Model Canvas (BMC), helping participants understand how sustainability principles can be integrated into project strategies while effectively communicating and promoting their initiatives.
In the afternoon, participants visited Salina National Park for an outdoor problem-solving activity. The session highlighted how even small actions can influence and contribute to wider changes within an ecosystem. Participants drew inspiration from the Native American “Three Sisters” farming method, in which corn, beans, and pumpkins are grown together in a mutually supportive system.
The day concluded with a SWOC analysis, allowing participants to examine the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges associated with their projects. The activities reinforced the importance of collaboration, interconnectedness, and strategic thinking when developing sustainable solutions.
Day 7 – 16 November 2024: Wrapping Up the Green Shift Stage 2 Project 🌳🌟
The seventh day marked the successful conclusion of the second stage of the Green Shift project. The morning began with inspiring group presentations focused on turning project plans and ideas into concrete actions. Participants then took part in a reflective activity centered on incorporating sustainable practices into their everyday lives.
Everyone was invited to write down their personal thoughts, commitments, and ideas for sustainability and place them on a symbolic tree, representing the collective effort to nurture and grow sustainable actions within our communities.
In the afternoon, participants revisited the “Stand the Line” activity from the beginning of the project. This allowed everyone to reflect on how their knowledge, attitudes, and perspectives on sustainability had developed throughout the training.
The final sessions included sharing personal insights on sustainable living, revealing their Secret Friends, and taking a group photo to celebrate the connections and experiences built throughout the project.
The Green Shift Stage 2 journey may have come to an end, but the knowledge, ideas, and commitment developed during the project can continue to create a positive and lasting impact.
Comments