Across Europe, youth workers play a central role in guiding young people through the challenges of the climate crisis. While environmental awareness was growing, the ability to communicate these complex issues in a credible, accessible, and engaging way remained a significant gap in youth work practice.
The GreenComm – Green Communication and Media Literacy in Youth Work project was developed to address this challenge by supporting youth workers to strengthen their communication capacities and navigate the digital media landscape with confidence.
Funded under the Erasmus+ programme (a KA210 – VET / Small-Scale project), GreenComm responded to a clear need for professional development and innovation in youth work. Studies such as the European Commission’s Study on Youth Work in the EU (2021) underscored the demand for practical tools, training, and stronger peer-learning opportunities—particularly in the areas of digital literacy, media competence, and strategic communication.
GreenComm project was at the intersection of youth work, media literacy, and the green transition. It equipped youth workers with the tools and knowledge to engage young people more effectively in environmental issues, not only through traditional information campaigns, but through targeted, strategic, and relatable communication that spoke the language of the digital generation.
The project brought together four partner organisations from the Netherlands, Türkiye, Estonia, and Portugal. Each partner contributed distinct expertise in youth education, communication, digital platform design, and environmental advocacy. Together, the consortium developed a cohesive set of learning and engagement tools that were both practice-oriented and accessible.
Among the core activities carried out during the project:
A 7-day pilot training, designed to test and deliver the GreenComm training content with selected youth workers from partner countries.
Three local seminars held in partner countries to introduce project outputs to youth workers and organisations at the national level.
An international dissemination campaign, targeting youth workers through social media, newsletters, and online events.
A final conference to present the project results and facilitate networking among professionals in the field.
The GreenComm project delivered three main outputs:
The Green Communication VET Training Programme, consisting of seven modules covering topics such as content creation, storytelling, media strategy, and viral communication techniques, all tailored for environmental and climate-related youth work.
The Green Communication Toolkit, offering practical resources including planning templates, case studies, workshop materials, and guidance for implementing communication activities at the local level.
The Green Communication Platform, an open-access, multilingual digital learning environment that hosted the training modules and toolkit, and provided space for ongoing knowledge exchange.
All materials were produced in four languages—English, Dutch, Turkish, and Portuguese—to ensure accessibility across all partner regions. The platform was designed to remain live and publicly available beyond the project’s lifetime, supporting the ongoing professional development of youth workers throughout Europe.
GreenComm ultimately aimed to raise the visibility, quality, and relevance of youth work in the context of the European Green Deal. By enabling youth workers to harness the power of media, storytelling, and digital tools, the project contributed to more informed, engaged, and empowered youth communities capable of driving meaningful environmental action.
To explore the project’s tools, training programme, and practical outputs, we invite you to visit the relevant sections of the platform.