It's time

In the partnership, we felt that “It’s time” to get young people more involved and contributing effectively in the fight against the biodiversity and climate crisis. According to the United Nations, we have a decade to take action before it is too late. Generation Z are often seen as victims, rather than valid contributors who can make a difference (Rousell, D and Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles, A (2019) A systematic review of climate change education: giving children and young people a ‘voice’ and a ‘hand’ in redressing climate change. Children’s Geographies. ISSN 1473- 3277) Throughout the project, our goal was to offer tangible ways for young people to take action, ensuring that their generation has a voice and can be more effective in the ongoing and future fight against biodiversity and the climate crisis. In the BirdLife Network of 120 countries involved, we are promoting a platform for young people to do this and we can give them the skills and competences to increase awareness in their communities by having young people at the centre of decision- systemic changes needed to reduce and improve the environmental crisis.

The main project aim was to create the first BirdLife International Youth Leaders Council and to strengthen volunteering and youth engagement at national and international level. This council is and will be used as a mechanism to improve engagement of young people in environmental issues, including those with fewer opportunities, providing recommendations to BirdLife International on young people’s environmental priorities and finally creating and implementing a series of meaningful actions decided by the youth to protect nature.

The project had several implementation stages. The first stage involved initial meetings with the partners to plan, brainstorm the project actions, and recruit youth leaders. We created a first draft of the terms of reference for the BirdLife International Youth Leaders Council, defining its objectives, structure, selection process, and implementation guidelines. This was essential to be able to recruit the youth leaders and education staff who then attended the World Congress. The second stage involved the development of a training program aimed at empowering youth leaders to maximise their potential and skills. We introduced participants to BirdLife partners' work, and we focused on developing skills such as leadership, communication, social media for social good, team work, but also increasing their knowledge about nature, birds and conservation efforts. Simultaneously, we focused on creating communication materials, including social media packs, videos, branding, and graphics. Therefore, in September 2022, we celebrated the inauguration of youth leaders council cohort engaged in a learning, teaching, and training activity hosted by BirdLife International in the U.K, Cambridge. This event involved meeting the BirdLife partnership, receiving leadership and communication training, and leading a multiplier event with external conservation organisations about the importance of youth engagement in conservation efforts and the creation of the BirdLife International youth council. Following the first LTT, we continued working on the project results, and we involved youths the communication campaign and actions regarding environmental issues. In April 2023 we organised a second LTT in Romania, Smida, focusing on concrete conservation actions and further strengthening skills, competences and knowledge including advocacy, team building, fundraising, social media. We organised multiplier events guided by local project partners with young people, we addressed the project results and we encouraged young people to focus on environmental priorities relevant to this generation and their respective communities. At national level, all partners increased their network of young people and volunteers and organised a series of hands-on workshops to engage and education about nature, with clear conservation actions.

Concrete outcomes and results of the projects: - Involvement of youth leaders from 22 countries and growing, including those with fewer opportunities, in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate crisis, keeping them at the centre of the conservation actions over the next decade - A stronger BirdLife Network ready to address challenges environmental NGOs are facing together with the young people at the centre - Terms of reference to be part in the BirdLife International youth council and network structure, with an understanding to include marginalised groups - Training programme and booklets for young people - Communications Campaign Materials, tools and workshops - Volunteering brochure for ornithological organisations and building a volunteering procedures for the organisations. - Advocacy and a series of green recommendations youths want to address - Direct conservation actions. - Capacity building of organisations involved, improving internal procedures, building a group of volunteers and youths engaged in the organisations’ activities.