The European Conference was co-organized from May 21 to 24, 2018 by French organization Monde Pluriel and Portuguese association ASPEA in Oeiras, Lisbon and Cascais, European city of youth for 2018. It gathered 82 youngsters – 66 delegates aged 13-16 and 16 facilitators aged 18-30- from 10 European countries representing thousands of youngsters around Europe, to inquire, debate and commit themselves for sustainable societies and valorize their commitments through educommunication tools.
9 European countries took part in this event sending to Oeiras delegations representing more than 10 000 youngsters involved in the LTCP dynamic in Europe. Belgium, 10th participating country, was represented by 4 facilitators from our partner organization in Brussels, Service Volontaire International (SVI).
In parallel, 20 teachers from 9 participating countries exchanged, networked and produced a statement document to make the pedagogical practices evolve in the area of Education on Sustainable Development (ESD).
This year, the Conference was built around 6 topics, inspired by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the United Nations agenda until 2030 : biodiversity, clean energy, water and sanitation, responsible production and consumption, health/well-being and air quality, climate change.
Two paramount moments were dedicated to the dialogue between the youth and decision makers: one at the Cultural Center of Cascais with eurodeputies, the other at the Portuguese Parliament where the youngsters had the honor to be 
welcomed, with national deputies from the Environment Commission. These enabled the delegates to valorize their actions and to challenge the elected people on issues close to their heart.
The Conference concluded with the youngsters presenting their collective productions : pictures and videos created by the young reporters from the Youth Press Agency, posters and original portraits emphasizing their commitments, collective reading of the Letter of commitments “Let’s be the change !”coming from the debates of all the workshops, and last but not least a joyful and energetic batucada !
You can read the official report by clicking here : Official report of the 3rd European Youth Conference
Day 1 (21 May):
After a most enjoyable flight our eight young people travelled by metro to Lisbon and then caught the train to Oeiras, arriving at 3.30 in the afternoon. They just about had time to leave their luggage at reception before being whisked off by bus to Cascais, European Youth Capital for 2018, for the opening ceremony.
After a few words of welcome by the organisers, Monde Pluriel and the Portuguese NGO ASPEA, the students listened to a speech by the Mayor of Cascais and the Portuguese Secretary of State for Education. They then participated in a ‘debate’ with five members of the European parliament.
Dinner was served in a restaurant in the centre of Cascais, consisting of a buffet and shared plates of specialities brought by each deputation, providing an opportunity for our young people to discover exotic foodstuffs!
Back at the Cultural Centre in Cascais, the students then delivered a cultural presentation about France (carefully coached by Perrine), with the added stress of being the first to go, before listening to highly original talks by the other delegations.
The young people returned late, found their rooms and showers and enjoyed a most well earned rest!
Day 2 (22 May):
After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, it was time for the first workshops. The students were separated into small groups for a rotating presentation about all the projects being carried out in the different countries, explaining their own project and then hearing about the other people’s projects in turn. This discussion time gave our young people an opportunity to make direct contact with the members of the other delegations. During these sessions, they were supervised by a team of dynamic voluntary ‘facilitators’ from every country in Europe. The final morning session was devoted to making preparations for meeting Portuguese deputies the next day.
After grabbing lunch at the hotel restaurant, it was time to head back to the workshops, this time intermingled with the other young Europeans, to cover predetermined topics (such as air, water or pollution). The aim was to begin to prepare the Charter of Commitment that would be the culmination of the Let’s Take Care of the Planet conference. All of these discussions took place in English, a great learning opportunity (but also very tiring!) for our young people!
At 6 p.m. they took a breather, either resting in their rooms, playing games on the beach or going for a walk, before dinner at 8 p.m. followed by an evening of quiet games before Day 3 in Lisbon, which was expected to be intense…
Day 3 (23 May):
Wake-up call at 7 a.m., breakfast then the whole group (66 students plus facilitators, teachers… nearly 100 people!) departed on foot then by train for Lisbon. The students visited the parliament building, including the chamber of deputies. They then participated in a debate in the magnificent former Senate chamber, using (not always very comprehensible…) simultaneous translation, with Portuguese deputies belonging to the Parliamentary Commission for the Environment. Each delegation presented a summary of actions carried out within organisations and asked the deputies a few questions. They then separated into groups: one small group (the young Parisians with Charlotte and Perrine from Rhône-Alpes) went off to eat and to visit Lisbon with young Portuguese people, who offered to accompany them, while the other group went for a picnic in a lovely park and then had some free time visiting or shopping in town. Their exemplary behaviour stood out – with their timekeeping, solidarity and permanent smiles, it was a joy to spend time with them! We went back by train and after a little rest they continued their work, drawing up the Letter of Commitment by young Europeans taking part in the Let’s Take Care of the Planet project.
Day 4 (24 May):
Today, the last day of the conference, the programme was once again intense. A morning of workshops to finalise the closing ceremony occupied the minds of our young people who, despite their fatigue, continued to demonstrate a contagious enthusiasm! The food was rapidly dispatched and we left for the Lisbon-based Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth where the closing ceremony was to be held after the final workshops. This ceremony was absolutely sublime: we were able to find out about the young people’s work: the posters they had produced to communicate their commitments, photo and video montages about the Youth Press Agency in which Anna participated, the Letter of Commitment, a charter setting out the young Europeans’ commitment to the planet that will be distributed to all Portuguese deputies via the President of the Commission for the Environment, and to the European Parliament too! We also listened to a batucada band which lit up the auditorium. Finally, a short discussion by teachers about their work closed this first session. It was then time for the official speeches, thanks and departure for Lisbon’s Belem district. Traffic jams reduced the delegates’ free time but the reappearance of the sun and the magnificent light in this most historic place was appreciated by all. Back in the town centre, a quick dinner and it was time to prepare for the leaving party. The young people, the facilitators, the organisers and the teachers took occupation of a magnificent hall, opposite the sea, to dance and share these final moments. A very happy, festive and emotional time!
How difficult it was to say goodbye and to go to bed: our young Europeans, who had been strangers just four days before, had forged strong ties during this conference, both in the work they performed and also during meals and free time, often intermingled, a wonderful example of what Europe is, and what it should always be.
The members of the French delegation, which comprised 12 young people in total (eight from Rhône-Alpes, two from Île de France and two from Guyana) stood out for their exemplary behaviour, being full of smiles, positive and enthusiastic, and participating with good humour in everything that was suggested. This was noted and appreciated, particularly by Elaine Ivassenko (facilitator and member of the Monde Pluriel team), who spent every day with them!
The 3nd European Youth Conference « Let’s Take Care of the Planet » co-organised by organisations Monde Pluriel and ASPEA will take place from May 21 to 24, 2015, in Oeiras at the Inatel Hotel, 20 km away from Lisbon in Portugal, gathering 80 youngsters representing thousands of youth from 10 European countries. As in 2015, we are planning a productive and festive moment!
Feedback on the 2nd European Youth Conference, “Take Care of the Planet”, held in May 2015 at the headquarters of the Committee of Regions and in collaboration with the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels.
The European Conference was held from 19 to 23 May 2015 at the headquarters of the Committee of Regions and in collaboration with the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels. It brought together 85 young people from 14 European countries: 65 delegates from 13 to 16 years old and 20 facilitators from 18 to 30 years old. There were also representatives of thousands of European young people to investigate, discuss and engage in favor of sustainable societies.
The 13 European countries involved in the LTCP dynamic participated in this event by sending delegations, representing thousands of young people in Europe, to Brussels. A Belgian delegation also participated in the Conference with guest country status.
When three young Europeans talk about their visions of education and dreams for the school of tomorrow at the “Thematic Day” organised by the Ministry of Education as part of the COP21.
The European Let’s Take Care of the Planet Delegation, invited by Monde Pluriel, spent a week in Paris for COY11 and COP21 from November 27 to December 4, 2015. Be it during their participation in COY11, their discovery of the “blue zone” (the official negotiation area only accessible with an accreditation), the visits in the “Climate Generations Area” (the civil society area at Le Bourget) but also the invitation by the French Minister of Education, N. Vallaud Belkacem to make a speech at the Thematic Day on Education, our delegation had an astonishing journey.
The 2nd European Youth Conference « Let’s Take Care of the Planet » will take place From May 20 to 22, 2015, in Brussels at the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, gathering 80 youngsters representing thousands of youth from 14 European countries. As in 2012, we are planning a productive and festive moment!
Monde Pluriel a participé à la II° Conférence Nationale Espagnole Prenons Soin de la Planète qui s’est tenue à Barcelone du 12 au 15 Novembre 2014.
More...
Discover SOME POSTERS, SOME VIDEOS ON THE FLASH MOB ON THE MOBILIZATION DAY AND OTHERS ACTIONS that took place on June 5th, 2014 with the Let's Take Care of the Planet project in many different countries !
POSTERS CREATED BY YOUNG EUROPEANS:
FLASHMOB BY YOUNG EUROPEANS:
FROM POLAND:
It all started with some introduction about the environment, but it ended in big fun! This school made the choide to create their own choregraphy, great result as well Konopnicka Secondary School, Katowice, Poland
FROM SPAIN :
All the students from the school prepared the European Choregraphy proposed to all the European schools and performed the flash mob on June 5th, 2014 to commemorate the World Environment Day! beautiful shared energy... Horta Vella School, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain
A 'home made' flash mob 6 minuts video on the mobilization of this school with Let's Take Care of the Planet: a very rythmic way to present the activities of this dynamic school. Sukarrietako School, Saiakuntzarako Zentroa, Bilbao, Bask Country, Spain
Flash Mob performed by the young delegates of the Let's Take Care of the Planet project in Axular Institute - Santurtzi, Basque Country, Spain.
Europako Mobiliz-akzio Eguna: Orobiogoita BHI:
OTHERS ACTIONS IN EUROPE FOR THE MOBILIZATION DAY:
FROM FRANCE:
A special video to incite the people to swim in the Berre pond located next to Marseille, (South East France), instead of being afraid of pollution for not being aware of the reality. Fun and instructive! The last sentence in French says : "Don't do like this stupid girl: go and swim in the pond!" Lycée Langevin, Martigues, France.
Click on the picture to see the video
Pictures of the Mobilization Day in Villard de Lans (38), France:
Article from Montplaisir High school in Valence, France
FROM POLAND:
Pictures of the Mobilization Day:
FROM ROUMANIA:
Pictures of the Mobilization Day:
SPAIN:
Special activity on food and health at the Centro Instituto de Enseñanza Secundaria Orobiogoitia (Iurreta, Bizkaia, País Vasco, Spain)
Organized at the ‘Centro de educación para alumnado discapacitado, Madrid, Spain:
You can see in Spain the project is developed with teenagers but also with the youngest:
L'Escola Sant Domènec de La Ràpita (Barcelona, Catalunya)
More videos from the Spain:
http://confint-esp.blogspot.com.es/2014/06/dia-de-moviliz-accion-europeo-ies.html
http://confint-esp.blogspot.com.es/2014/06/dia-de-moviliz-accion-europeael-carme.html
http://confint-esp.blogspot.com.es/2014/06/dia-de-moviliz-accion-europeo-san-jose.html
Let's take care of the planet 2013 - 2018
