Rebirth: Climate Crisis and Migration – Learning, Reflection, and Community Engagement

The Erasmus+ Mobility of Youth Workers project “Rebirth: Climate Crisis and Migration” was held in Madrid/Alcobendas, Spain, between 29 April and 5 May 2025, coordinated by KUFF Refugees and Minorities Solidarity Association.

Participants began by engaging in creative and experiential learning activities that combined music, movement, and environmental awareness. Through bodily expression inspired by classical compositions, youth workers reflected on humanity’s relationship with nature and explored how emotions, natural phenomena, and environmental changes can be communicated beyond words. These activities encouraged self-expression, strengthened group cohesion, and highlighted the importance of connecting environmental education with creative methodologies that can later be applied in youth work.

A significant focus was placed on understanding environmental migration and the growing challenges faced by environmental refugees. Through presentations, discussions, and the analysis of real-life examples, participants examined how climate change, natural disasters, environmental degradation, and conflicts contribute to forced displacement around the world. The sessions encouraged critical thinking about global responsibility and sustainability while helping youth workers better understand the human consequences of environmental crises and the importance of preventive action.

Participants also explored alternative perspectives on history and development through collaborative research and storytelling activities. By imagining how societies, economies, education systems, and environmental policies might have evolved in the absence of wars, youth workers analyzed the long-term environmental and social impacts of conflict. Working in international teams, they developed scenarios, shared perspectives from their countries, and strengthened their research, teamwork, and communication skills while reflecting on peace as a prerequisite for sustainable development.

Intercultural dialogue remained at the heart of the project. Through language-learning activities, cultural presentations, and interactive exchanges, participants learned basic words and expressions from each other’s languages while discovering traditions, customs, food, dances, and cultural values from across Europe. These activities promoted mutual understanding, challenged stereotypes, and demonstrated how cultural diversity can become a powerful tool for cooperation, inclusion, and solidarity among young people and youth workers.

The project concluded with community-oriented activities, stakeholder visits, and comprehensive evaluation sessions. Youth workers presented environmental awareness materials to local residents, engaged in interactive exhibitions and educational games, and exchanged ideas with community members about sustainability and migration. Participants also documented their learning outcomes through the Youthpass process, reflected on their personal and professional development, and evaluated the overall impact of the project. As a result, they left Spain with enhanced competencies in environmental education, intercultural communication, non-formal learning methodologies, and international cooperation, ready to transfer these experiences into their future youth work activities.