The course took place at NaNebi, a community centre located within the grounds of the Porta Coeli Monastery, whose peaceful atmosphere perfectly matched the theme of the week. The programme was packed with games, simulations, discussions, and daily reflection sessions, alongside workshops delivered by the organisation Telperion. Participants explored climate change through the Climate Fresk workshop, a card-based activity explaining the causes and consequences of climate change, discussed climate misinformation, and played the simulation game Beecarbonize. There were also several DIY workshops, where participants made their own lip balm and homemade Fanta, a small but tangible reminder that not everything has to be bought ready-made.
Midway through the week, participants took part in a volunteer day supporting NaNebi, the organisation hosting the training. The final days focused on upcycling, making natural cleaning products, a permaculture workshop led by one of the participants, and the collaborative creation of a booklet full of practical tips and activities for developing green skills.
During the week, the group also travelled by train to Brno to visit the Magenta Centre, where they met the team behind PlasticGuys.cz, a Czech startup that transforms plastic waste into new products. It was an inspiring example of how sustainability can become a successful and innovative business.
By the end of the course, participants took home much more than a recipe for homemade lip balm. They left with a better understanding of the circular economy, the causes of climate change, and what sustainable consumption looks like in everyday life. They gained practical skills they could immediately apply both at home and in their work with young people, and thanks to the booklet they created together, they also returned with a collection of activities they could use in future educational projects. Along the way, they built new friendships across eleven countries and left feeling inspired to take the next step towards a more sustainable way of living.
