Roots of Sustainability: From Recycling Knowledge to Practical Action

The Erasmus+ KA152 Youth Exchange project “Roots of Sustainability” (Reference No: 2025-1-TR01-KA152-YOU-000299086) took place in Kastamonu, Türkiye, from 1 to 8 February 2026. Coordinated by Kastamonu Kalkınma Sağlık Çevre Eğitim ve Turizm Vakfı, the project brought together young people from Türkiye, Georgia, Germany, Austria, and Denmark, with the participation of Persephone Environmental Development Association as a partner organization. The project aimed to strengthen participants’ knowledge, skills, and awareness regarding sustainability, environmental responsibility, and recycling practices.

Participants started the day with an energizing team-building activity designed to promote cooperation, quick thinking, and coordination. Through this interactive game, young people experienced the importance of teamwork while developing their communication and decision-making skills in a fun and dynamic environment. The activity also helped maintain a positive atmosphere and encouraged active participation throughout the program.

A panel session on recycling provided participants with a deeper understanding of how different types of waste are processed and transformed. Presentations focused on the recycling processes of paper, plastic, and glass materials, allowing participants to gain comprehensive knowledge about waste management and environmental protection. Interactive discussions and a question-and-answer session encouraged the exchange of ideas, strengthened critical thinking skills, and provided participants with valuable experience in public speaking and effective communication.

Building on the theoretical knowledge acquired during the panel, participants took part in a practical workshop where they created plantable seed paper from recycled newspapers and paper scraps. This hands-on activity demonstrated how recycling can be integrated into everyday life through creative and sustainable solutions. By actively engaging in each stage of the process, participants developed practical recycling skills, enhanced their problem-solving abilities, and discovered innovative ways to transform waste materials into useful products.

The Innovative Recycling Workshop encouraged participants to work in international teams to repurpose discarded materials into functional and creative items. Using recyclable resources such as plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, and tin cans, participants designed practical solutions to environmental challenges. This activity fostered creativity, innovation, teamwork, and solution-oriented thinking while highlighting the role of recycling in building a more sustainable future. Cultural sharing and evaluation activities further enriched the learning experience by promoting intercultural understanding, encouraging self-reflection, and helping participants recognize the knowledge and skills they had gained throughout the day.