The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has been awarded a EUR 0.8 million grant by Villum Foundation, part of the VELUX foundations, to deliver “Capable Youth Connected Communities,” a new initiative that will empower 1,900 young people across France and Italy to lead environmental action in their schools and communities.
About the project
Working with 22 schools and 98 teachers, the project will help students from socio-economically vulnerable communities to investigate local environmental challenges, develop practical solutions, and engage directly with municipalities, NGOs and community organisations. Through experiential learning, young people will build leadership, communication, collaboration, and digital skills while gaining insight into local governance and green career pathways.
The project will be delivered by FEE in partnership with FEE National Operators, Teragir in France and FEE Italia in Italy.
The initiative builds on FEE's internationally recognised education programmes, including Eco-Schools, Learning About Ecosystems and Forests (LEAF), and Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE), combining environmental learning with youth leadership and community engagement.
Environmental Youth Leaders of FEE Italia
About the partners
““This is much more than a project for France and Italy. Together with Teragir and FEE Italia, we are creating a living laboratory for innovation in environmental education. By testing new approaches to engage with marginalised communities, evaluating impact, and sharing practical learning across FEE’s international network, we aim to help schools everywhere engage young people as confident, capable leaders in their communities.” ”
““This partnership gives young people the opportunity to work alongside local decision-makers and see that their ideas can make a genuine difference in their communities.” ”
““By connecting schools with municipalities and local partners, we are helping students develop the knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed to contribute to a more sustainable future.””
Alongside national delivery, FEE will coordinate international learning, evaluation and knowledge sharing so that practical tools and lessons from the project can benefit schools and educators across Europe.
FEE extends its sincere thanks to Villum Foundation, part of the VELUX foundations, for its trust and investment in this initiative. As the project progresses, FEE and its partners look forward to sharing the stories, learning, and impact emerging from schools and communities across France and Italy.