YLGET Youth Leading Green Energy Transition

Our mission is to empower youth through energy education, personal development, and entrepreneurship, fostering a generation of informed, responsible, and proactive individuals.

Basic information

Research information

Teacher information

Description

The project Youth Leading Green Energy Transition (YLGET) is an Erasmus+ Small-Scale Partnership in the field of youth (KA210-YOU), designed to empower young people and youth workers to actively contribute to the European Green Deal objectives and the transition toward sustainable energy systems. Implemented by a consortium of three organisations—Asociația Edulifelong (Romania), SAYGIN EGITIMCILER VE GIRISIMCILER DERNEGI (Türkiye), and Obshtinsko predpriyatie Mezhdunaroden mladezhki kulturen tsentŭr (Bulgaria)—the project spans from 1 March 2025 to 31 May 2026, with a total grant of €60,000.

The initiative responds to the pressing need for environmental literacy and practical engagement among youth, aiming to bridge the gap between awareness and action in the context of climate change and energy transition. YLGET seeks to strengthen the capacities of youth workers and educators to deliver innovative, non-formal educational programs on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate resilience. At the same time, it provides young participants with opportunities to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial skills through experiential learning and intercultural collaboration.

The project’s objectives are:

- to equip youth with knowledge and advocacy skills for sustainable energy practices,

- to train youth workers in ESG principles, community engagement, and program design, and to foster cross-border cooperation among Romania, Bulgaria, and Türkiye.

Through a structured sequence of activities—including transnational meetings, research and study visits, capacity-building training, local workshops, and digital content creation—the project promotes active youth participation in shaping a sustainable future. A key output will be a Digital Booklet on energy education and sustainable practices, co-created by young people, complemented by a social media campaign and multiplier events to ensure broad dissemination and impact.

The target groups include 90 young people aged 13–19 and at least 12 youth workers, alongside educators, local communities, and stakeholders. Activities are designed to combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience, using tools such as robotics, virtual reality, creative storytelling, and policy simulations. These methods aim to make sustainability education engaging, inclusive, and impactful.

Basic information

Coordinator

Asociația Edulifelong, https://www.asociatiaedulifelong.com/

Partners

Programme

Erasmus+ (programme-erasmus-plus)

Project Acronym

Target groups

college students, general public, parents, policy makers, secondary school students, teachers, vocational school students, youth clubs, other

Topic

Ecology, Energy, Gender in STEM, Education

Start year

2024

End year

2026

Url

https://erasmusproject.wixsite.com/ylget

Contact person

Iohana Cristina Udrescu, iohana4@yahoo.com

The research component of the Youth Leading Green Energy Transition (YLGET) project is central to its evidence-based approach and aims to generate actionable knowledge on youth engagement in sustainability and renewable energy education. The research activities were structured under Activity A3 – Research and Study Visits, complemented by continuous data collection during training sessions and local workshops. These efforts were designed to inform the development of innovative educational materials, policy recommendations, and best practices for non-formal learning in the context of the green transition.

The research methodology combined field observation, participatory inquiry, and comparative analysis across three partner countries—Romania, Bulgaria, and Türkiye. Study visits to renewable energy installations, sustainability centers, and heritage sites provided opportunities for direct observation of technologies such as photovoltaic systems, anaerobic installations, and energy-efficient infrastructure. Data collection tools included structured questionnaires, reflection sheets, interviews with local authorities and engineers, and photographic documentation. These instruments captured both technical insights and socio-cultural dimensions of sustainability, ensuring a holistic understanding of the green transition.

The research also explored pedagogical innovation by examining how experiential learning, STEM-based activities, and intercultural collaboration can enhance youth competences in climate literacy and energy education. Findings from workshops and study visits were triangulated with secondary data gathered during participation in high-level events such as the EU Climate Pact Annual Meeting and the Regions4Climate Seminar.

Preliminary results indicate that youth engagement in hands-on activities—such as robotics programming, VR simulations, and policy debates—significantly improves their understanding of renewable energy systems and fosters critical thinking, teamwork, and civic responsibility. The research further highlights the role of youth workers as mediators of knowledge and facilitators of community-based climate action. These insights will be consolidated into a Digital Booklet, which will serve as an open-access resource for educators, researchers, and policymakers.

Papers

The Youth Leading Green Energy Transition (YLGET) project offers a structured set of activities and educational resources designed to support teachers and youth workers in promoting sustainability and renewable energy education through non-formal learning. These activities combine experiential learning, STEM-based approaches, and intercultural collaboration, ensuring that teaching practices are innovative, inclusive, and aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal.

Following the initial Kick-off Meeting (A2) and Research and Study Visits (A3), which provided foundational knowledge and best practices, the consortium implemented Activity A4 – Training of Youth Workers in Burgas, Bulgaria. This training equipped educators with advanced competences in sustainability education, ESG principles, and program evaluation, preparing them to deliver high-quality local workshops.

Local implementation under Activity A5 – Phase 1 introduced diverse and creative learning experiences across partner countries:

In Romania, activities included the creation of comic books illustrating renewable energy concepts, virtual reality explorations using Oculus and the Energy Encyclopedia app, and robotics programming workshops simulating energy flows in green cities. Structured debates on energy transition scenarios further strengthened critical thinking and civic reasoning.

In Bulgaria, the International Youth Cultural Center (IYCC) organized a two-day event (25–26 October 2025) that engaged young people, teachers, and youth workers in hands-on STEM workshops and policy simulations. Participants worked directly with solar technologies, energy storage systems, and robotics prototypes, including a solar-powered electric car developed by students. The program combined technical demonstrations with creative activities and structured debates, fostering problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation. These sessions also encouraged participants to present school-based renewable energy projects, strengthening links between formal and non-formal education.

In Türkiye, SAYEGDER implemented participatory workshops focused on designing sustainable societies, integrating ethical reasoning, negotiation, and inclusive decision-making. These activities emphasized youth participation and community engagement in sustainability initiatives.

The teaching materials soon to be developed throughout the project will be included in the YLGET Digital Booklet, co-created by youth, featuring practical information on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and community engagement strategies, along with facilitation guides for non-formal workshops on renewable energy and climate action.

This resource will be designed to be adaptable for schools, youth centers, and community programs, and will be made available through the project website and partner networks.

YLGET Youth Leading Green Energy Transition

Description

Basic information

Papers

Teaching materials