ENABLE – EMPOWERING NEXT – GENERATION ADVOCATES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT – Project Launching Event

Innovation and Sustainable Development Institute (ISD) organized and actively participated in the conference entitled ‘‘Project Launching Event’’, under the European Program entitled «ENABLE – EMPOWERING NEXT – GENERATION ADVOCATES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT» which was held in Luxembourg, on 29 and 30 August 2024.

The Project Launching Event for the ENABLE project, CERV-2023-CITIZENS-CIV (Project Number: 101148180), took place in Luxembourg on August 29-30, 2024. The consortium was consisted of 7 EU countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy and Luxembourg and the partners were NGO’s. The Innovation and Sustainable Development Institute (Luxembourg) focuses on promoting youth education, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development through national and EU projects. SDRUZHENIE ZA INOVATIVNO MISLENE (AIM) (Bulgaria) empowers young adults in education and self-development, working towards a society free from prejudice and discrimination. Association ECHO (Croatia) actively promotes civil society, human rights, and social inclusion, particularly for marginalized groups such as children, youth, migrants, and women. Association Carquois (France) is dedicated to empowering individuals through education, environmental protection, and social inclusion, with a strong participation in EU-funded initiatives like Erasmus+. Similarly, YOUTHABILITY (Greece) provides educational support and training, focusing on leadership, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion for marginalized youth. Info- Ecocenter (Hungary) promotes sustainable development through eco-friendly education, leveraging their extensive experience in EU programs like Erasmus Plus and Leonardo da Vinci. Finally, MV International (Italy) is a global network of 37 NGOs dedicated to youth empowerment, social inclusion, and non-formal education, with a special emphasis on combating racism and integrating migrants into society.

Hosted by the Innovation and Sustainable Development Institute (ISD-NGO ASBL), the event marked the official introduction of ENABLE to its stakeholders, including team members, partners, citizens, and other key participants. This launch event was designed to present the project’s goals and objectives, ensuring that all attendees—whether directly involved or not—clearly understood ENABLE’s mission and vision. The event took place at Silversquare Liberté Coworking Space in Luxembourg City, which provided a comfortable and well-equipped environment for the sessions. The space featured all necessary equipment, and the event was complemented by tasteful catering with a variety of food and beverages.

On August 29, 2024, the day was dedicated to laying the groundwork for a youth-driven initiative focused on climate action and global sustainability. The day kicked off with Registration and Welcome Coffee, providing attendees an opportunity to network and engage in informal conversations over coffee. This initial gathering set a collaborative and friendly tone for the day’s proceedings. The event officially began with opening remarks and an Introduction to the ENABLE Project. Organizers (ISD) presented the vision, goals, and importance of the project, emphasizing the crucial role of youth in driving sustainable change and climate action. There was also an Introduction of the Project Team and Key Stakeholders. This session allowed participants to meet the organisations leading the nitiative, understand their roles, and learn how various stakeholders would contribute to the project’s success. A Lunch Break was held, offering another chance for attendees to engage in informal discussions, share ideas, and build relationships in a relaxed setting. The afternoon sessions were dedicated to the core themes of the project.

A session on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: Youth-Driven Climate Action and Its Impact on Global Sustainability explored how young people can contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on climate action. The next session, Empowering Youth for Civic Engagement: Strategies for Climate Justice Advocacy with a Focus on Marginalized Groups addressed methods to engage and empower young individuals, especially from marginalized communities, to advocate effectively for climate justice with examples and case studies. On the second part of the event, participants reconvened for a session focused on Strategic planning, vision building, and strengthening networks to ensure the project’s long-term success. The event aimed to solidify the goals and deliverables discussed on the first part of the session, while fostering collaboration and action among stakeholders. Attendees participated in an Interactive Session: Crafting a Vision for ENABLE’s Impact. During this, participants engaged in collaborative discussions to define the long-term vision of the ENABLE project. Together, they explored how the project can leave a lasting mark on climate action, sustainability, and youth empowerment.

Following this, the group transitioned into Strategic Planning: Setting Milestones and Key Deliverables. The next 15- minute segment on Collaborative Engagement: Strengthening Networks and Partnerships emphasized the importance of building strong partnerships, encouraging participants to connect and share resources to support one another’s efforts within ENABLE and beyond. The Project Launching Event for the ENABLE project was ended with an overwhelming success. Participants responded positively to the clear and comprehensive presentation of the project’s goals and objectives. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the event’s organization, the quality of the discussions, and the inclusiveness of the sessions.

In conclusion, the ENABLE Project Launching Event successfully laid the groundwork for a transformative youth-driven initiative. With strong partnerships, a clear strategic plan, and enthusiastic support from participants, the ENABLE project is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious goals of promoting climate action and sustainability on a global scale. The project has officially begun, and next is the Youth Climate Awareness Camp in Hungary, which will focus on empowering young participants through mutual learning activities and critical thinking workshop on climate change.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.