The Youth Exchange "Eco Travellers" took place in Novoli (Lecce), from 02/08/2016 to 11/08/2016. It has been a project aimed to develop among 30 young participants from 6 different countries (5 for each country) the importance of travelling being more in contact with nature in order to:
-Develop healthy lifestyle thanks to open air activities (hiking, SUP, canoeing, bodyboard) in one Natural Regional Protected Park (Porto Selvaggio), in one very important natural area in Marina di Pulsano (Taranto), and in the WWF Oasi of Policoro (Basilicata), and thanks to a big space dedicated to healthy nutrition (workshops, meeting with experts of Slow Food, Fair-Trade, right eating habits and laboratories in which they could prepare healthy food following the model of Mediterranean Diet that is heritage of Unesco for its healthy values);
-Develop personal soft skills (team working, application of acquired knowledge, social interaction, mediator abillities, ecc.) and especially a deeper understanding of the relationship between themselves and the environment in order to obtain an eco-way of thinking and eco-habits, useful for a better and sustainable daily life, thanks to Bushcraft activities, meeting with experts, trust and role games, workshops, debates about topics as travelling being in total contact with nature, ecology, generation awake, life attitude, recycling, sustainable development and giving a big importance to topics of eco-citizenship & taking part to an EcoDay developed through the products of the recycling workshop, in order to raise awareness on important topics like Pollution and sea conservation.
-Develop healthy lifestyle thanks to open air activities (hiking, SUP, canoeing, bodyboard) in one Natural Regional Protected Park (Porto Selvaggio), in one very important natural area in Marina di Pulsano (Taranto), and in the WWF Oasi of Policoro (Basilicata), and thanks to a big space dedicated to healthy nutrition (workshops, meeting with experts of Slow Food, Fair-Trade, right eating habits and laboratories in which they could prepare healthy food following the model of Mediterranean Diet that is heritage of Unesco for its healthy values);
-Develop personal soft skills (team working, application of acquired knowledge, social interaction, mediator abillities, ecc.) and especially a deeper understanding of the relationship between themselves and the environment in order to obtain an eco-way of thinking and eco-habits, useful for a better and sustainable daily life, thanks to Bushcraft activities, meeting with experts, trust and role games, workshops, debates about topics as travelling being in total contact with nature, ecology, generation awake, life attitude, recycling, sustainable development and giving a big importance to topics of eco-citizenship & taking part to an EcoDay developed through the products of the recycling workshop, in order to raise awareness on important topics like Pollution and sea conservation.
Photos album
Part I
Part 2
"EcoTravellers diaries"
... the project lived by the participants...
"In this project I have learnt to feel nature in a different way and care about it. I have met some really special people, its a shame that we live far away from one another, but i will keep with me the good memories which is getting to know these people and living this experience with them."
Lorena - Spain
"Ecotravellers has been my first project, before coming here I was wondering how it will be. I didn't know what to expect at all and I the same time I was a kind of nervous for not to be able to integrate good in the group. But days passed on and each day was getting better and better. I am so glad to have live these days, I feel like everything has been just how it supposed to be. Nature was amazing and I learnt to love it even more than before. Colors, smells, feeling the sun and the sea, all of that has acquire a new point of view and other way to feel it. I am happy to have overcame some fears, I feel stronger now, more secure that I am able to achieve my goals. Thank you so much, because here I have lived memories that will last. I really had the opportunity to just sit and admire the greatness of nature. What did I feel? Freedom."
Michelle - Italy
"Be in nature, live the nature, BE the nature... Make you understand and feel the importance of the "small" things.
Humans because of ignorance only think about their "big" things without look more far of where arrive their eyes, of their selfishness!"
Alicia-Spain
"I want to start speaking about my trip, about how I felt in the moment in which I realized, yes I am going to participate in Greenrope and I am a lucky person for that. I decided to leave and I am very glad now because that is one of the best experience that anybody could live. Do things for first time, discover how your body feel that sensations, speak with lot of people who are different in customs, traditions, models of life but above all take off the language's barriers that separate us. This makes you find your place in the world."
Cristina - Spain
