The project aims to use immersive artistic experiences and interactive storytelling, particularly through audio guides, to combat climate misinformation, enhance environmental awareness, and inspire meaningful action by making sustainability issues feel immediate, relevant, and engaging.

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The project took place in Vienna, Austria, from 1 to 7 November and involved 40 youth participants from Latvia 🇱🇻, Austria 🇦🇹, Croatia 🇭🇷, Greece 🇬🇷, Czech Republic 🇨🇿, Slovakia 🇸🇰, Slovenia 🇸🇮 and Serbia 🇷🇸.

 

A major challenge we face today is the overwhelming amount of misinformation surrounding climate change. Additionally, the current methods of learning about environmental issues are often not engaging or stimulating enough to captivate people's attention. Environmental awareness and the actions necessary to help heal our planet—such as combating pollution, recycling, supporting local activities, and addressing bad habits like littering—are frequently seen as distant problems that don’t directly affect our daily lives. This perceived detachment creates the illusion that our sphere of influence is limited and the dangers of climate change are remote, leading to a lack of urgency in taking action. However, modern technology, particularly immersive tools and audio guides, offers an opportunity to change this perception. These technologies have the power to bring environmental problems closer to home, making them feel more immediate and relevant. Through immersive experiences and site-specific interventions, along with the wide-reaching impact of podcasts, audio storytelling, and interactive guides, we can create compelling narratives that not only raise awareness about environmental issues but also engage people in finding solutions. This project aims to harness the power of immersive artistic experiences and interactive storytelling to shine a light on pressing environmental issues. By developing interactive audio guides, we will explore environmental topics together, becoming both creators and learners in the process. Through this collaborative approach, we can foster a deeper connection to the environment and inspire meaningful actions to help protect and preserve it. How cool is it to create your own Audio-guide about an environmental issue?

 

The project aims and objectives:

• Develop critical transversal skills (both personal and professional) to meaningfully and actively engage in climate action, empowering participants to take initiative and make impactful contributions.

• Leverage audio guides as an innovative digital tool to create immersive and interactive learning experiences, enhancing our engagement, sense of initiative, and active participation in climate action.

• Engage in holistic experiential learning that cultivates cognitive, practical, and social competencies in sustainability, empowering participants to connect theory with practice in their everyday lives.

 

Project activity schedule:

Day 1 - We kicked off our exchange with a warm welcome and teambuilding activities, setting the foundation for a collaborative and inspiring week ahead. Participants were introduced to the exchange program, learning about its structure, goals, and expectations. In the afternoon, we reflected on our own competences, mapping our skills, and sharing insights with each other. The day concluded with final preparations for the environmental presentations and a reflective session, followed by an intercultural night to celebrate our diverse backgrounds.

 

Day 2 - This day was dedicated to deepening our understanding of environmental issues. Each group delivered insightful presentations, sharing knowledge and experiences related to sustainability. We explored key environmental concepts, fostering discussions on ecological challenges and possible solutions. Through interactive sessions, participants engaged in critical thinking about how these issues impact both local and global communities. The evening wrapped up with reflection time and community bonding.

 

Day 3 - A day of adventure and experiential learning! The morning was filled with an exciting City Challenge, where participants explored urban spaces and sustainability in action. In the afternoon, we engaged in an immersive simulation audio-guide experience, which provided a unique perspective on environmental and social themes. The day ended with a mid-term evaluation, allowing participants to reflect on their learning journey so far and set goals for the upcoming days.

 

Day 4 - We delved into the power of storytelling and creative expression to communicate environmental messages. The day started with eco-narratives, where we explored how stories shape our understanding of sustainability. This was followed by interactive theatre exercises, helping us express ideas through movement and role-playing. In the afternoon, we worked on writing and storytelling techniques, culminating in another immersive audio-guide experience. The day ended with reflection time and community bonding.

 

Day 5 - This was a day of hands-on creativity and collaboration! Participants formed groups and worked on creating their own stories and environmental narratives. Through group story writing, they developed compelling messages and scripts. The afternoon was dedicated to finalizing recordings and testing our creations, ensuring they were ready for presentation. Reflection time allowed participants to assess their progress, and the evening was filled with community time!

 

Day 6 - As our journey neared its end, we focused on personal goal setting, reflection, and celebrating our achievements. The morning was dedicated to presenting our final actions and receiving feedback. We also took part in the Erasmus+ YouthPass evaluation, recognizing our learning outcomes. The afternoon included a symbolic activity, stepping over the home boundary, signifying our growth and newfound perspectives. Finally, we closed the journey with a heartfelt farewell party, celebrating friendships and the knowledge gained throughout the week!