From 12 to 20 March 2025, the Erasmus+ training "Green Horizons" took place in the beautiful rural setting of Galicia, Spain, with the aim of bringing together 28 youth workers from eight European countries (Greece, Serbia, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Estonia, Slovenia and Spain) in a space of non-formal education. The Slovak delegation at this inspiring event was represented by Martin and Samo under the auspices of the sending organisation Mother Flower. Their participation focused on the presentation and development of the Precious Plastic Slovakia project, which is dedicated to innovative solutions in the field of plastics recycling.

The training took place in the small town of Sobrado, approximately 45 minutes from Santiago de Compostela. The accommodation of Abeiro da Loba, a historic building with more than 250 years of history, provided the participants with a pleasant environment surrounded by forests of chestnut and eucalyptus trees. The atmosphere of the place perfectly complemented the theme of regenerative solutions and sustainability.

View of our Abeiro de Loba accommodation through the chestnut forest

Content and Benefits of the Training

The main objective of the training was to provide participants with tools and methodologies to promote sustainability among young people, with an emphasis on:

• Regenerative solutions to combat the climate crisis and rural depopulation,
• Linking theory to practice through interactive workshops,
• Promoting international cooperation and personal development.

Martin: "From the first day I felt that this was not going to be just an ordinary training. Discussions with people from seven different countries opened up new perspectives on sustainability solutions for me. I learned that even small initiatives can have a huge impact if they are properly led."

Lots of high quality presentations on environmental topics

Martin and Samo were actively involved in the workshops where they presented the concept of Precious Plastic Slovakia. Their contribution was extremely valuable as they showed concrete steps on how waste can be transformed into new products and thus promote a circular economy.

A snapshot of the interactive activities, which were many and great

Key Activities and Experiences

1. Facilitation sessions and networking - Participants had the opportunity to get to know experts from different countries and exchange experiences in green projects.
2. Outdoor education - Practical use of natural resources as part of the learning process, where the Slovak delegation learnt new techniques of sustainability education.
3. Project planning - Martin and Samo collaborated on proposals for possible expansion of Precious Plastic Slovakia to other countries, discussing new models for recycling and upcycling.
4. Intercultural exchange - During evenings focused on cultural exchange, they introduced Slovak environmental initiatives and shared experiences with community projects.

Samo: "The biggest benefit for me was to see how other countries are tackling the issue of sustainability. Exchanging experiences allowed us to think of new ways to expand our project and get more people involved."

Lots of flipchart work, sharing, presenting topics, ideas

Impact and Future Plans

Participating in Green Horizons was extremely rewarding for the Slovak delegation. Martin and Samo are returning home not only with new knowledge and contacts, but also with a vision to expand the Precious Plastic Slovakia project. They plan to implement the new methodologies learned during the training and create collaborations with other European initiatives. In addition, they are able to use the experience gained from informal educational methods during their interactive recycling workshops in schools across Slovakia, thus further promoting sustainable thinking among young people.

Visit to Santiago de Compostella Cathedral

Martin: "Thanks to this training, I understood how important collaboration is. With the other participants we have already agreed on the first steps towards joint projects. A big thank you to Mother Flower, the organisation that made it possible for us to be part of this international community, and to all the partners and facilitators who contributed to creating an inspiring and stimulating environment."

Green Horizons wasn't just a training session - it was a push for real action towards a more sustainable future.

Acknowledgements

A big thank you to Mother Flower for the opportunity to be part of this programme, and to our hosts from Ticket2Europe, Anne, who created an amazing learning and sharing environment.

Equally a big thank you to Mariubel and its great vegetarian cuisine, the facilitators and all those who created an inspiring and stimulating environment with their energy, knowledge and openness.

Great vegetarian food every day, while pastries, quality olive oil and salt were always available on the table

And, of course, a huge thank you to Erasmus+, who made it possible for us to be part of this unique experience. This initiative is making a huge difference in connecting people who are trying to make a positive difference in the world.

If you too are working on environmental projects or are interested in sustainability, collaboration is key. Who knows, maybe a new international project will come out of this experience.

Do you have experience with similar initiatives? We would love to hear your stories and opinions! ✨🌍♻