The objective of a youth exchange focused on environmental awareness and healthy habits is to promote the development of a sustainable and healthy lifestyle among young people. Youth work practice recognizes that young people have the potential to make a positive impact on their communities and the environment, and empowering them with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to do so is a crucial goal of youth work. All those participants that will go to Vissani, a countryside place that has very few residents and suddenly will make it alive again it might help young people understand that they hold the power in their hand. If a big percentage of young people start living in the countryside that might help them understand that living in areas that are away from big cities and they are not that crowded it is intresting and by combining it with habits that improve them that might make their life even better.

The specific objectives of our project will include: Raising awareness about environmental issues: The project aims to educate young people about the impact of human activities on the environment, and to promote an understanding of the interconnectedness between environmental issues and human health. The project aims to encourage young people to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and avoiding harmful substances.Also, the project aims to develop practical skills, such as gardening, composting, recycling, and upcycling, which are essential for a sustainable lifestyle.

Furhtermore, the project aims to foster intercultural dialogue among young people from different countries, and to promote mutual understanding and respect for cultural diversity. Our goal is to empower young people to take action on environmental issues, and to become advocates for a sustainable and healthy lifestyle in their communities.

Through these objectives, the youth exchange can provide young people with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to become active agents of change in their communities and to contribute to a more sustainable and healthy future.

Plan your trip according the arrivals to Thessaloniki and departures from Thessaloniki! Duration: 8 working days + 2 travel days.

Arrival date: 30 October 2023 / Departure date: 10 November, 2023

If you will arrive in Athens and you need to reach Kozani there is public transportation but it might take you a little bit of time to arrive at Kozani. The trip lasts around 7 hours and costs 43,40 EUR. But if you decide so you can also book online the tickets: https://www.ktelkozanis.gr/

After you arrive at Kozani you take from the same station the public transportation for Velvento. Schedule is also uploaded at the page above.

STEPS: From Athens Airport you take Bus X93 to Kifisou Intercity Bus Station (KTEL Kifisou) (departs from Athens Airport every 30-40 minutes) The travel duration is approximately 60 minutes. There are only 2 buses per day but you can check online closer to your arrival

SUGGESTED!!! If you are gonna arrive at Thessaloniki you take the bus to Kozani (takes 1,5 hour and costs 11,60 EUR) and you can also book a ticket at the same page above. After you reach Kozani you take the public transportation to Velventos where is the place that the youth exchange will be implemented.

From Thessaloniki Airport you take the bus to «Makedonia» Regional Coach Terminal (KTEL). The bus stop is located at the departures area, in front of entrance 3 of T1. Tickets can be purchased in front of the bus stop in kiosk or by the bus driver.

P.S.: You can use till 2/3 days extra for your travel if you want to explore more of Greece or it helps you to arrange your travel smoother.
Extra days are on your own expenses.

Participants need to be motivated and interested in the topic! From 18 to 26 years old! Leader has no age limit!

7 participants delegated by each partner organisations + 1 LEADER! Totally – 8 persons!

Participants with fewer opportunities are more than welcome.

Budget for travel
Spain – 360 EUR per participant for the travel

P.S.: All the tickets have to be confirmed with us before booking them!

These travel expenses will be reimbursed to the partner organisation via transfer after the project having all the original return tickets sent to us by post. We would like to remind you that flight tick- ets need to be economy class. Participants need to bring and submit the original tickets, invoices where is shown the PRICE and BOARDING PASSES in order to get their reimbursement. Invoices should be in EUR and your names should be written on the invoices. If the participants do not submit the respective original documents to us, their payment will not be reimbursable!!!

To make the most of your experience and contribute meaningfully to our discussions and activities, we have prepared some homework for you to complete before you arrive. This homework will help you gain a deeper understanding of the topic and engage more actively during the exchange. Please complete the following task:

Choose an environmental case study from your country or another region that highlights a successful initiative, project, or campaign addressing an ecological challenge. It could be a reforestation project, waste management campaign, renewable energy initiative, etc. Prepare a short presentation (3-5 minutes) explaining the case study, its objectives, outcomes, and lessons learned. Be ready to share this during our exchange. Please complete this task before the start of the «Ecological Conscience» Youth Exchange. Your active participation and preparation will enrich our discussions and activities, contributing to a more meaningful and impactful experience for everyone involved.

We look forward to your contributions and can’t wait to explore the world of ecological conscience together! Safe travels and see you soon!

You will be accommodated in the hotel “Agnanti” https://www.agnanti-hotel.gr (3, 4 people per room). Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served at the restaurant of the hotel. Hotel is located inside the village. It is surrounded by trees it has a very beutiful view. We will be responsible for dividing the participants at the rooms. The menu will be very specific so make sure to inform us for any dietary restrictions before the beginning of the program.

All the participants are responsible to obtain a health and full travel insurance. The costs for the in- surance have to be covered by you. Remember your European Health Insurance Card!

• Specific medicines (if you need any)
• Personal documents to travel
• Materials and a presentation regarding your Sending Organisations
• Some national/local snacks and sweets, warmer clothes and comfortable shoes..
• Any other item that you consider relevant.

Weather: During October and November the weather in Velvento is around 5-10 degrees Celcious. It»s also a little bit rainy. So we suggest dressing in warmer clothes during the day and check the forecast before you pack.

Velventos (Greek: Βελβεντός) is a town and municipality in Kozani regional unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Also Velvento has public

transportation to the capital. Velventos lies at the foot of the Pierian Mountains, 33 km northeast of the city of Kozani. It is located near the artificial lake of Polyfyto.