May 2026 to April 2027
EcoEscape: Unlocking Green Skills is a local volunteering project funded by the European Solidarity Corps, which will take place in the Azores over a 12-month period, from May 2026 to April 2027.
〇 The main objective of the EcoEscape project is to empower young people with green skills, promoting environmental sustainability, climate awareness, and active participation in the protection of the territory, with a particular focus on rural and island communities.
〇 Through EcoEscape, the project aims to develop essential competencies related to sustainability, environmental conservation, climate action, critical thinking, teamwork, and active citizenship. The project adopts non-formal education as its core methodology, using interactive workshops, hands-on activities, and immersive learning experiences, such as environmentally themed escape rooms, which enable participants to learn by doing.
〇 EcoEscape seeks to equip young people with practical knowledge and tools that allow them to understand current environmental challenges and apply sustainable solutions in real-life contexts. Additionally, the project aims to encourage participants to become agents of change within their communities, contributing to the creation of educational materials, awareness-raising actions, and activities targeted at other young people and local stakeholders, thereby fostering a culture of environmental responsibility and sustainable development.
〇The Azores are characterized by extraordinary natural richness and unique ecosystems, while simultaneously being a territory highly vulnerable to climate change, pressure on natural resources, and global environmental impacts. Island regions face specific challenges, including dependence on natural resources, exposure to extreme climate events, and the need for sustainable solutions adapted to the local context.
〇At the same time, young people are increasingly concerned about the future of the planet, but often lack the practical skills necessary to transform this awareness into concrete action. The green transition and environmental sustainability require new competencies, attitudes, and forms of civic participation.
〇EcoEscape emerges as a response to this reality by promoting the development of green skills and encouraging the active involvement of young people in building local solutions to global environmental challenges. The project contributes to youth empowerment, the strengthening of active citizenship, and the creation of more conscious, resilient, and sustainability-oriented communities.