Local Youth for Global Change

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Everything boils down to whether we can solve the root causes of global inequality. The DEAR project Connect for Global Change is showing its first results. Tackling global challenges like climate change, conflict, and inequalities starts with empowering people to understand their global connections and take local action for sustainable and inclusive change. 

In Finland, fifteen organisations are working with young people nationwide to address the root causes of global inequality through practical actions in education, communication, and community engagement. 

Working on more accessible language

Inclusive communication contributes to inclusive solutions. Several projects funded by Connect for Global Change in Finland are working to translate global issues into something easier to understand. For example, in Plain Steps towards a Sustainable Future, young people explore climate and equality topics through clear, visual materials and practical exercises. Also the Stories of Hope, Tools for Change videos by the Helinä Rautavaara Museum, use symbols and imagery to make learning more inclusive. And Young Global Influencer workshops simplify scientific content for diverse audiences. 

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Young people as co-creators

When youth shapes how global challenges are understood and addressed with role-playing games co-creation happens. A Shared Future in Play, The Future Makers, or the Bites of Change develop learning resources, cooking sessions, storytelling, and videos and turn learning into action. By leading and creating their own learning materials, young people make global education more engaging, practical, and accessible for their generation. Besides, young people become more familiar with the language of global challenges as they design and produce the materials themselves.

Addressing global challenges amid misinformation and disinformation is also in the focus: youth from diverse backgrounds develop media skills and advocate for inclusion through initiatives like My Story – Our World.

All these Finnish projects are rooted in respective local communities, involving schools, universities, cities, media, and associations. On the same scale, the grassroots, 99 projects in total are currently ongoing in 10 other EU countries, within the framework of Connect for Global Change. These projects are very diverse and often very local, but all are meant to engage youth and people less interested in global challenges. Activities range from youth exchange programmes, community projects, art and media projects, podcasts and documentaries to music and acrobatics show and sport challenges always meant to communicate the need for genuine people engagement to tackle the global challenges.