How to integrate traditional ecological knowledge into learning communities | Youth Climate LAB 3

We are pleased to announce the third edition of the Youth Climate LAB “How to integrate traditional ecological knowledge into learning communities”

What?

The Youth Climate LAB is a peer-learning activity where young participants can engage with peers, explore an existing climate-related issue and propose practical solutions that can be implemented by interested stakeholders. In each edition, participants will have the opportunity to meet experts and gain an in-depth knowledge of the edition’s topic.

This year, it will explore how to integrate traditional ecological knowledge into learning communities. The goal is to build an action package comprising 5 practical recommendations and a learning scenario. A template will be provided to confirmed participants to support the development of the action package.

When?

As participant, you will meet online over one week. Two representatives will then be chosen to present the action package during the dedicated session of the Education for Climate Day 2025, which will be hosted on 23 October in Brussels.

• First session: Monday 15 September from 17.00 to 18.30 CET

  This session introduces the topic. You will explore the key challenges and barriers to incorporating traditional ecological knowledge in education.   

• Second session: Tuesday 16 September from 17.00 to 18.30 CET

  This session focuses on existing traditional ecological knowledge techniques in land management and biodiversity loss. As a participant, you will learn about these techniques and brainstorm how to integrate them into mainstream climate resilience strategies.

• Third session: Wednesday 17 September from 17.00 to 18.30 CET

  This session addresses knowledge transfer methods in indigenous cultures and questions how these models could be of inspiration for the design of school curricula.

• Fourth session: Thursday 18 September from 17.00 to 18.30 CET

  This fourth session focuses on how behavioural sciences could support the integration of traditional ecological knowledge into learning communities. It will do so by including good practice examples of how identified barriers can be overcome.

• Fifth session: Saturday 20 September from 9.30 to 12.30 CET 

  During this last meeting, participants will meet to develop the action package. After being randomly divided into two groups, participants will have 2 and a half hours to fill in the provided templates and prepare the final presentation.

How to participate?

To express your interest and consent to participate in the selection process, please fill in this form by 31 August.

All candidates will be contacted for a short call, which will serve as an eligibility check. Once the selection is completed, participants will receive the connection details and further materials.

Who are we looking for?

We are calling for young citizens who may be either students or young professionals interested in the topic of this edition. Please be aware of the following eligibility requirements:

• You are between 16 and 26 years old. Candidates turning 27 during this edition will be considered as reserve candidates and will be accepted if additional spots are available.
• You are a citizen of one of the countries of the European Education Area.
• You have sufficient understanding of English to actively participate in the discussions. No English certificate is required; however, participants should have a minimum level to sustain a conversation in English.
• Eligible participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Candidates will be selected on a rolling basis until the maximum number of available spots is reached.

What is it in for you?

At the end of the Youth Climate LAB, the participants who have actively joined the discussion will receive a certificate of completion. Two representatives will be chosen to travel to Brussels for the Education for Climate Day on 23 October to present the action package.

Representatives that will be considered for participation in the Education for Climate Day will be chosen based on the following criteria:

1. Interest in the Education for Climate Day 2025: Participants must have ticked the interest box during their application. Only those who have expressed their interest since the beginning of the LAB will be taken into consideration.
2. Age: Participants must be minimum 18 years old to be eligible for travelling on their own.
3. Participation rate: Only participants who have joined all the sessions and have actively participated in the discussions will be considered. 

A lottery extraction will be organised among the eligible candidates during the last session to select the representatives of the Youth Climate LAB at the Education for Climate Day in Brussels.