Empowering Youths: An Alternative Learning Pathway for a Sustainable Future

Abstract

In 1992, Agenda 21 sparked the need to educate youths on sustainable development. The declaration “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, presented in 2015, also reinforced the fact that young people are the keystones for a better sustainable world. Bearing these principles in mind and the need to enforce Malta’s National Education for Sustainable Development Strategy, the NGO Higher Youths was set up. The organisation’s ethos is that of empowering youths to further their education and employment skills by exposing them to a variety of learning methods through informal and non-formal education, thus making their learning personalised and relevant. The organisation creates alliances with other NGOs and promotes active citizenship and sustainable awareness by exposing youths to memorable experiences. This paper provides an overview of the Erasmus + Project PECT (Protecting the Environment through Conservation Techniques) for Future Generations, which took place in Tarnava Mare Natura 2000, Transylvania, Romania. Sixteen Maltese and Romanian youths worked together with local community members for 2 weeks. The hands-on activities and workshops encouraged youths to be self-motivated and, apart from increasing their chances of employability locally and overseas, empowered them with the realisation of the need to act and live sustainably.