Project Information
Project Reference: 2021-2-BE04-KA220-YOU-000050778
Status: Completed
Duration: 1 May 2022 – 30 April 2025
EU Grant: 311,857 EUR
Programme: Erasmus+
Action Type: Cooperation Partnerships in Youth
Countries Involved: Belgium, France, Ireland, Sweden, Italy
Project Background
GRASSROOTS ECO-HEALTH TOURISM was created to support young people who face social and economic difficulties, especially those from rural areas and disadvantaged urban communities. Many young people in Europe struggle with unemployment, lack of opportunities, and low self-confidence. The project responded to this challenge by connecting youth work with the growing field of eco-health tourism.
This sector combines tourism, health, sustainability, and local development. The project showed that environmental and social challenges can also become opportunities for learning, employment, and entrepreneurship. Its main idea was to help young people become active contributors to greener and more inclusive local communities.
Main Objectives
The project had three main objectives. First, it aimed to strengthen the skills of youth workers and youth professionals by giving them practical tools to support young people in sustainable tourism and social entrepreneurship. Second, it wanted to help young people discover and develop their own project ideas linked to tourism, culture, food, sport, or digital tools.
A third important goal was to improve cooperation between different sectors, such as youth organisations, tourism actors, training providers, and local authorities. In this way, the project promoted a stronger connection between education, local development, and the green transition.
Implementation
The project was implemented over 36 months through strong international cooperation and regular partner coordination. The consortium worked through transnational meetings, monthly exchanges, and local activities. This helped the partners share ideas, test methods, and adapt the project to local realities.
Two main training activities took place in Matera and Brussels, where young people and professionals worked together on project ideas and practical learning tasks. The project also included several local and international dissemination events, allowing the partnership to share progress, collect feedback, and involve a wider audience.
Learning Approach
One of the strongest elements of the project was its practical and learner-centred approach. Participants did not only receive information—they explored, tested, discussed, and created. The project used non-formal education methods, group work, mentoring, case studies, and immersive learning tools.
This approach made learning more accessible and engaging, especially for young people with fewer opportunities. It also helped participants better understand how sustainable tourism can create real social and economic value. The project encouraged them to connect personal interests with meaningful local action.
Learning Approach
One of the strongest elements of the project was its practical and learner-centred approach. Participants did not only receive information—they explored, tested, discussed, and created. The project used non-formal education methods, group work, mentoring, case studies, and immersive learning tools.
This approach made learning more accessible and engaging, especially for young people with fewer opportunities. It also helped participants better understand how sustainable tourism can create real social and economic value. The project encouraged them to connect personal interests with meaningful local action.
Main Results
The project produced several important educational resources. These included a guide to best practices, a teaching and methodology guide, a structured training course for youth workers, and an immersive toolkit full of activities, videos, worksheets, and assessment tools. These materials were designed to be practical, transferable, and easy to use in different local contexts.
Together, these outputs created a complete educational framework for eco-health tourism. They can continue to support youth organisations, educators, and young people even after the project has ended. This gives the project long-term value and sustainability.
Impact
GRASSROOTS had a positive impact on both individuals and organisations. Young participants improved their confidence, creativity, and project-planning skills. Many of them discovered new personal and professional directions and started to see themselves as active changemakers in their communities.
The project also strengthened the capacities of partner organisations and built stronger cooperation across countries and sectors. It reached a wide audience through training, events, online dissemination, and social media. As a result, the project increased awareness of eco-health tourism as a promising field for youth inclusion, green entrepreneurship, and local development.
Conclusion
GRASSROOTS ECO-HEALTH TOURISM showed that young people can play an important role in building more sustainable and inclusive communities. By combining youth work, entrepreneurship, and environmental thinking, the project created a valuable model for future initiatives.
Its biggest success was not only the creation of tools and resources, but also the motivation and confidence it gave to participants. The project proved that with the right support, young people can turn local challenges into meaningful opportunities for growth and positive change.
