The COVID-19 outbreak had tragic effects on our societies and economies, leading to the loss of a number of jobs and hindering opportunities for many young people to integrate into the
labour market in the near future. It also urged a worrying rise in the amount of waste disposal of single-use materials such as PPE. While the traffic in European cities was reduced, this has led to a drop in air pollution, and it is likely to quickly rebound unless lasting structural changes are created. Thus, while COVID-19 forced our societies to a halt, it also posed an opportunity to challenge systemic unsustainable practices.

But, in order to start reverting environmental degradation, our societies must implement long-term measures, which fundamentally demand AWARENESS BUILDING, MINDSET CHANGING, and the CREATION OF SUSTAINABLE AND CIRCULAR ALTERNATIVES. In this matter, the CREATIVE SECTOR has the potential of offering solutions to promote circularity in the use of resources. Additionally, EDUCATION is crucial to transparently disseminate knowledge and to prompt the change of mentalities in an enduring manner. Finally, educating today’s YOUTH and involving them in the process of creatively conceptualizing circular practices is key to empowering youngsters to lead the journey towards a more circular future.

In this context, YOUCREATE acknowledges that the CCIs represent the entering sector for many young people into the labour market and that the triggering of a green and circular economy demands creatively developing alternatives to unsustainable practices. It also recognizes the role of EU projects as innovation drivers, however identifying the wasteful character of some practices of EU project conceptualization, management, and dissemination.
YOUCREATE, therefore, builds on the notion that CREATING BRIDGES between the CCI and the CE can be resourceful to improving the future of our planet, societies, and youth. The project perceives that this is especially true when targeting youth from different cultural backgrounds, given their creative and innovative potential, and when empowering them with educational tools and connecting them with the field of EU projects. This bridge is also opportune to build awareness and knowledge about CE, CCI, and EU PROJECTS while DEVELOPING SKILLS that will aid our youth’s transition into working contexts. It is also key to promoting new and transferrable perspectives among youth workers around EU project development and management. Finally, the project will deploy a participatory methodological approach in the development of its outcomes, involving youth and valorizing their perspectives and needs in all of its stages.
More specifically, the project seeks to:

• raise awareness to use the creative and digital tools within the CCI regarding the ideas of circularity and eco-responsibility,
• deliver sustainable working instruments based on innovation and creative skills within project conceptualization, management, and implementation,
• empower youth workers and young people and prompt their familiarity with the CCI by building their skills and capacity to make EU projects more environmentally responsible through education and training; creativity and environmental responsibility; and cooperation and solidarity
• encourage transnational cooperation and intercultural interconnections, and the exchange of sustainable practices between young people, youth workers, and organizations.

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