Youth Participation and Democracy Award category

The Forest’s Questions and Walk – Nature, Rights Advocacy, and Active Citizenship Gathering

Title of the Project

The Forest’s Questions and Walk – Nature, Rights Advocacy, and Active Citizenship Gathering

Organisation

Gençlik Akademisi

WEBSITE

https://www.genclikakademisi.org/contact/

Project link

Project dates

2025-10-18

October 18, 2025

What is it about?

It was carried out within the scope of the Time to Move activities. Rather than approaching nature as a topic to be discussed, the activity was designed as an experiential process centred on listening to nature and understanding its message. Throughout the event, young people were invited to listen to the sounds of the forest and reflect on the “Forest’s Questions” posed during the walk, such as: What does nature ask of us? How do we treat it? Do we truly respect its rights? In this process, the forest was approached not merely as a physical setting, but as a speaking entity with its own voice and demands.

The walk was organised as a smoke-free area, highlighting the right of nature and all living beings to clean air and emphasising that a healthy and sustainable environment is a fundamental right. Through this practice, participants directly experienced the link between environmental rights and individual behaviour.

Within the scope of the project, Eurodesk was introduced in a natural outdoor setting, showing young people that European opportunities are not limited to formal or indoor environments, but are accessible within everyday life and nature itself. One of the main objectives was to inform young people, especially those who had never heard of or participated in Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps, about European opportunities through Eurodesk. Throughout the activity, Eurodesk visibility was ensured, and participants were informed about European mobility, volunteering, and participation opportunities.

The project adopted an interactive approach that encouraged learning through feeling, listening, and questioning. This experience empowered young people as more conscious and active individuals who defend the rights of nature, clearly demonstrating how nature-based advocacy can be combined with active citizenship.

How is this project relevant to the specific category?

This initiative directly corresponds to the Youth Participation and Democracy thematic category. The “Forest’s Questions and Walk” activity positioned young people not as passive recipients of information, but as active individuals who question, reflect, and participate in decision-making processes.

The activity encouraged young people to think critically about environmental and nature-related policies, express their views, and recognize the connection between individual actions and broader social and environmental impacts. During the nature walk, the “Forest’s Questions” invited participants to reflect on issues such as what nature asks of us and to what extent its rights are respected. This process supported key democratic participation skills, including listening, questioning, expressing opinions, and reflecting on shared values.

Organizing the activity as a smoke-free area further encouraged young people to reflect on environmental rights and decisions affecting public spaces, reinforcing the idea that a healthy environment is a fundamental right for everyone. This approach strengthened participants’ rights-based perspectives and awareness of environmental advocacy.

Introducing Eurodesk in a natural outdoor setting helped young people connect their local experiences with European-level opportunities for participation. By learning about Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, participants discovered concrete ways to engage in mobility, volunteering, and civic participation across Europe, empowering them to take a more active role in democratic and social processes.

Through its participatory, experiential, and reflective design, the initiative created a meaningful space for youth engagement and dialogue. It demonstrated how environmental awareness and rights-based advocacy can be combined with active citizenship, making youth participation and democracy tangible through direct experience rather than abstract information.

What was the impact of the project?

The project had a strong emotional and reflective impact on young people and the local community by creating a space where participants could slow down, listen to nature, and reconnect with themselves. Feedback collected after the activity showed that many young people felt calmer, more peaceful, and emotionally relaxed, stating that being in nature and listening to the forest made them feel happier and more balanced.

Through the “Forest’s Questions,” participants became more aware of their relationship with nature and reflected on habits they had previously taken for granted. Many young people expressed that the activity helped them realise how disconnected they had become from nature and recognise everyday behaviours that negatively affect the environment. This realisation marked an important step toward developing a more conscious and respectful attitude toward nature.

The smoke-free environment further contributed to this experience by reinforcing the idea of clean air as a shared right and enhancing the sense of physical and mental well-being. Participants highlighted that the clean, quiet, and respectful atmosphere allowed them to focus, reflect, and feel more present.

The project’s experiential and interactive approach encouraged young people to express their thoughts openly, share personal reflections, and listen to each other. This created a sense of belonging and collective awareness, strengthening their confidence to act as environmental advocates.

In addition, the introduction of Eurodesk, Erasmus+, and the European Solidarity Corps helped participants understand that they can transform this awareness into action through European mobility, volunteering, and participation opportunities. At the community level, the project demonstrated how nature-based activities can support emotional well-being, environmental responsibility, and active citizenship, inspiring both young people and the wider community to rethink their relationship with nature.

Did the project have any green focus?

The project was planned and implemented with an environmentally responsible approach. The activity took place at Yakupabdal Nature Park in harmony with the natural environment, using nature itself as a learning space without causing harm. Throughout the activity, a smoke-free area was created to highlight the right to clean air and to raise awareness about environmentally harmful individual habits.

A zero-waste approach was adopted by avoiding single-use materials and encouraging environmentally responsible behaviour among participants. Transport and activity planning were kept simple to minimise the project’s carbon footprint. Before leaving the park, participants collectively cleaned the area and collected any litter, ensuring that the natural environment was respected and left cleaner than it was found. In addition, the activity content encouraged reflection on sustainable living, environmental responsibility, and the rights of nature, strengthening environmentally friendly attitudes not only in practice but also at the level of awareness and behaviour.

How did you ensure Eurodesk's visibility in your project?

Eurodesk visibility was ensured by integrating it into all stages of the activity. The event was carried out within the scope of Time to Move, and Eurodesk was introduced in a natural and accessible outdoor setting throughout the walk. Posters and visual materials were used in the activity area to promote Eurodesk and increase awareness. Participants were informed about Eurodesk’s guidance and information services and were shown how to access Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps opportunities. Eurodesk was presented not only as an information point, but as a practical guide connecting young people to European opportunities.

Project highlights

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