Youth for Resilient Communities

ongoing

“Youth for Resilient Communities” is a 24-month transnational project that aims to empower young people across 6 European countries to enhance their mental well-being and build sustainable communities through urban restoration and transformation. The initiative unites diverse partners—including youth organizations, mental health experts, and environmental NGOs—to pilot innovative activities such as community gardens, sustainability workshops, mindfulness sessions in green spaces, and local restoration interventions. The idea is that via integrating mental health support with hands-on environmental projects—rehabilitating degraded urban spaces into biodiversity-friendly areas—youth will boost their well-being while contributing to greener, more resilient, and livable cities. Aligned with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and EU Nature Restoration Law, the project’s multi-disciplinary approach aims to promote social inclusion, reduce isolation, and equip youth with leadership and hands-on project management skills as they will plan and implement the urban restoration projects themselves. It is structured into key axes: capacity-building for youth workers, youth and local stakeholders (WP2, WP3); hands-on urban transformation (WP4); and comprehensive dissemination through digital platforms and transnational events (WP5). Expected outcomes include improved mental health for over 60 young people, the implementation of 1-2 community-led restoration projects per implementing partner, and extensive reach through awareness campaigns led by youth themselves targeting over 150,000 individuals. Ultimately, this initiative aims to bridge sustainability and mental health, empowering youth to drive positive change and contribute to resilient, inclusive urban environments across Europe.