From Awareness to Action: Young People Driving Climate and Gender Justice

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For many young people, global challenges such as the climate crisis and gender inequality can feel overwhelming, distant, or difficult to act on. The Ecoality project responds to this by creating practical spaces where young people can explore these issues, connect them to their own lives, and take action in their communities.

Across its ten partner countries, Ecoality organises national Community Action Camps that bring together young people, educators, local authorities and civil society organisations. Each camp is rooted in its own local context, while sharing a common aim: to help young people understand the links between climate justice, gender justice and active citizenship, and to turn awareness into action.

In Italy, Nora took part in the national Community Action Camp in Cecina, Tuscany. Through beach clean-ups, workshops, exchanges with local organisations and peer learning, the camp opened up new ways for her to understand activism. “I discovered many new ways of doing politics, of participating in struggles, and of engaging in activism,” she said. The experience also changed how she felt about the future:

“I regained a glimmer of hope in humanity and lost a bit of my usual cynicism.”

In Poland, Alicja, a scout leader, described how the experience helped her bring new learning back to a group she already supports:

“The Action Camp showed me that I can also educate my group on climate and gender justice, not only on traditional scouting topics.”

Alicja's story shows how the project helps young people turn existing spaces – such as scout meetings – into places for awareness-raising and action.

Cristian, from Romania, described a shift from interest to civic engagement. Inspired by his national camp experience, he planned to create a volunteer group at his university. As he put it: 

“I learned that activism doesn't start in the streets, but the moment you decide not to stay silent.”

For Aleks, also from Poland, the camp brought a change in perspective. Before taking part, he saw climate and equality activism as distant from practical solutions. Afterwards, he said he understood that 

“Climate and gender justice are issues that affect everyone”

He said he planned to lead educational projects, lessons and discussions in his school and scouting community.

Alongside these national camps, Ecoality also organises international camps that bring together participants from different countries. Across its wider activities – including Learning Programmes, Community Action Camps, International Camps and Youth Peer Learning Spaces – the project has so far engaged 18,000 people in 10 European countries, including 74 schools and 59 youth groups. Through campaigns and youth-led local initiatives, it has reached 1.76 million people.

Together, these stories show Ecoality’s wider change: young people moving from awareness to confidence, from reflection to action, and from individual concern to collective responsibility.

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