Project Reference: 2023-2-IE01-KA220-YOU-000181089
Status: Completed
Duration: 01/01/2024 – 31/01/2026
EU Grant: 400,000 EUR
Programme: Erasmus+
Action Type: Strategic Partnerships for Youth
Countries Involved: Ireland, Finland, Spain, Armenia
Project Overview
Pathways to Nature was a European youth project focused on improving young people’s mental health and wellbeing through connection with nature. The project brought together youth organizations, universities, and NGOs from four countries. It was developed by Waterford and South Tipperary Community Youth Service Ltd (Ireland) with partners from Finland, Spain, Armenia, and Ireland’s academic sector.
Background
The project started from concerns about young people’s mental health. Many young people reported stress, anxiety, and low wellbeing caused by the pandemic, social media, climate change, and social inequality. Partner organizations collected these voices through their daily youth work. They concluded that nature-based activities and teamwork could help improve wellbeing and life skills.
Objectives
The main aim was to improve youth mental health and emotional wellbeing in a measurable way. The project also wanted to strengthen youth work practices and increase cooperation between organizations. Another important goal was to involve young people in all stages, so they could co-design activities and become active leaders of change in their communities.
Implementation
The project included several connected activities. A management team with youth representatives coordinated the work. Youth workers received training and then supported local youth groups in each country. These groups created and ran nature-based activities in their communities. Researchers collected data through surveys, wellbeing scales, and focus groups to measure impact.
Key Activities
Young participants organized nature initiatives such as outdoor teamwork tasks, environmental actions, and community events. They also took part in national trainings and international cooperation. In addition, youth participation conferences were held in each country, where young people shared their results and experiences with stakeholders and experts.
Achievements
The project showed clear improvements in communication, confidence, creativity, and emotional resilience among young people. It built a trained network of youth workers and connected hundreds of participants across Europe. Twelve nature-based initiatives were implemented and evaluated. An academic report and a practical youth work resource were also produced based on project results.
Conclusion
Pathways to Nature demonstrated that nature-based youth work can strongly support mental health and wellbeing. It also strengthened cooperation between European organizations and created tools that can be used in future projects. The project showed that when young people are involved as leaders, they can create meaningful and positive change in their communities.
