This open call is for residents in Austria only!
Green Hope is an Erasmus+ youth exchange project focused on raising awareness about the social dimensions of the climate crisis. Through non-formal education, it explores how climate change disproportionately affects people based on gender, ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic status.
The project empowers young people to become active, informed citizens by fostering dialogue on key topics such as environmental justice, sustainable food systems, corporate responsibility, and digital impacts. Using an intersectional and inclusive approach, it encourages critical thinking, cultural exchange, and European cooperation.
By connecting environmental and social issues, Green Hope inspires hope and collective action toward a more just and sustainable future.
Raise awareness about climate injustice and marginalization
Understand the connection between climate change and social inequalities
Empower young people through non-formal education
Foster European cooperation and shared values
Promote sustainable and fair lifestyle choices
19 participants (23–30 years old) plus 4 group leaders, 7 people per country (Italy, France, and Austria), interested in the topic.
A basic level of English is required, along with the willingness to step out of the comfort zone, learn, and be ready to open up and share.
Participants must be motivated and committed to sharing their new knowledge with their local communities.
Participants must be willing to engage in all activities during the exchange, and also propose and facilitate a workshopin their national groups.
Do not consume alcohol or drugs during the training (this is part of our policy for international and local programs).
Limit your contact with technology and use it only for urgent work or important conversations.
Be open-minded: experiment with new dishes and follow one week of vegetarian diet, cultivating curiosity and observing the changes in yourself.
Dedicate yourself fully to the process: give your 100% and engage in meaningful conversations and activities that benefit both you and others.
Respect the spaces where the program takes place, and use resources with responsibility, humility, and gratitude.
We will live together for one week as a conscious community, taking care of the place and daily tasks.
Participants will share 3–4 bed apartments and glamping tents, built in Apulian stone and located in a field surrounded by olive groves, with native plants and trees (prickly pears, yucca, rocket, orange trees, blackberry bushes).
We are honored to have with us a mindful cook with experience in Erasmus+ projects, who will guide us in the kitchen as a space for exploration of vegetarian food and self-awareness.
As part of the mindful community experience, participants will be asked to take on simple daily tasks to support the youth exchange management, such as washing dishes, helping in the kitchen, and maintaining shared spaces.
An international youth exchange opens the door to life-changing intercultural experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to share their own cultures (in whichever way they define and identify with it) with the rest of the group.
How you choose to represent your culture is entirely up to you: a poem, a traditional dance, a song, or some snacks—the possibilities are endless. Take time to imagine what represents you and your country, and come prepared to share it with others.
Coffee Breaks will include a cultural snack exchange, so be sure to bring some of your favorite traditional snacks.
In the evenings, there will be dedicated time for personal culture exchanges.
All main expenses are fully covered by the project through the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
Food
Participants will receive three freshly prepared vegetarian meals per day, including one special mindful dinner experience, plus snacks and coffee breaks.
Accommodation
Accommodation is provided for 8 nights at Villa Diana, in shared rooms or tents with 3–5 people and shared bathrooms, surrounded by nature near Merine, South Italy. Some beds are double and may be shared according to participants’ agreement.
Travel
Travel costs are reimbursed up to a set amount. Participants are strongly encouraged to choose green travel options(train, bus, carpooling). Additional support is available to cover food and accommodation for travel days, upon justification. Travel insurance may also be reimbursed within the travel budget.
Activities
All learning activities, workshops, facilitation, materials, and outdoor sessions are fully covered by the project.
Be mindful of the ecological impact of your journey.
We encourage you to choose green travel options such as train, bus, boat, or carpooling. No flying.
An extra budget is available to support slow, conscious travel—including food and accommodation during your travel days—so you can explore Europe at your own pace while reducing your footprint.
Travelling green may take more time, but it reflects the core values of this project: care, sustainability, and presence.
Let your journey become part of the learning experience.
Useful Tools:
Ecopassenger – www.ecopassenger.org
Rome2Rio – www.rome2rio.com
SBB Railway Planner – www.sbb.ch/en
Your travel expenses will be reimbursed only if you follow the rules below:
Keep all original travel documents: tickets, boarding passes, invoices, or receipts (digital or printed). If you travel green, you must also provide proof of extra food and accommodation expenses (up to 100 euros).
Reimbursement is made to the participant’s bank account, after the mobility, and only once your dissemination activity is completed.
Travel must take place within the allowed dates, including up to 2 additional days before or after the youth exchange:
Arrival: 19th of November
Departure: 27th of November
→ Travel must start and end in your country of residence. No exceptions unless agreed in advance with the hosting team.
Your reimbursement depends on how you travel:
Green travel (train, bus, carpooling, boat): up to 417 €
Non-green travel (flight): up to 309 €
Participants from Italy (green travel only): up to 285 €
Please select reasonable and economical means of transport (e.g. student fares, low-cost airlines, second-class train tickets). Taxi costs are reimbursed only in exceptional and justified cases.
Extra Travel Support
If you choose green travel, you may also receive up to 100 € to cover food and accommodation during your travel days (maximum 2 days before and/or after the project). Valid receipts are required for this extra reimbursement.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended and can be reimbursed if it fits within your total travel budget.
GREEN TRAVEL OPTION
We strongly encourage you to travel in the most sustainable and mindful way possible.
Choose green travel options such as train, bus, or carpooling to reduce your environmental impact and stay within the green travel reimbursement budget.
Lecce is well connected by public transport and reachable from many European cities by train and long-distance bus.
If you plan to travel overland, we suggest using:
www.rome2rio.com – explore different routes
www.trenitalia.com – book trains within Italy
www.flixbus.com – long-distance buses across Europe
www.ecopassenger.org – compare CO₂ impact of travel options
Reminder: Please be in Lecce before 19:30.
(A scheduled transfer from/to Lecce station will be provided. Villa Diana is only reachable by car, on foot (7 km), or by taxi in exceptional cases.)
Non Green Travel Option guidelines
If overland travel is truly not possible, you may consider flying to the nearest airports:
Brindisi Airport (BDS) – 35 km from Lecce
Bari Airport (BRI) – 150 km from Lecce
Naples Airport (NAP) – 420 km from Lecce, well connected by train
Rome Airports (FCO/CIA) – approx. 600 km from Lecce, with direct train or bus options
From these airports, it is easy to reach Lecce by train or bus.
Before booking, reach out to us if you need support planning your route or verifying your travel option.
➡️ If you travel more than 51% of your journey green, it can still be considered green travel.
Reminder: Please be in Lecce before 19:30.
(A scheduled transfer from/to Lecce station will be provided. Villa Diana is only reachable by car, on foot (7 km), or by taxi in exceptional cases.)
Please be in Lecce before 19:30.
There will be a scheduled transfer to and from Lecce’s train or bus station for transportation to Villa Diana.
Other than by car, there is no direct way to reach Villa Diana, apart from:
Walking the 7 km from Lecce
Taking a taxi (only in exceptional cases when no other option is available)
We strongly recommend to read all information before applying for the Youth Exchange!
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.