<< Objectives >>SFE is a European non for profit organization focussed on reducing marine and riverine litter and SEO/BirdLife is the oldest environmental NGO in Spain, that started its work 70 years ago, fighting for biodiversity conservation. This project is born from the willing of Surfrider Foundation Europe and SEO/BirdLife to work together. Working together, we will effectively combine our expertise areas and this will result in a successful project, enriching for all the actors involved within: the participants, the ERASMUS + Programme and ourselves. Additionally, this will be the first stage of a long-term and fruitful alliance between both entities.This youth exchange aims at promoting the Green Deal among young people in addition to other environmental policies and strategies; especially those related to marine biodiversity conservation and marine litter reduction. The recent Green Deal introduced by President Von der Leyen, remains still unknown for European youngsters; nevertheless it is the most relevant document at a European level in terms of sustainability and environmental issues. One of its main priorities is restore biodiversity and cut pollution, which perfectly justifies our proposal and the adequacy of this project.With this youth exchange, we aim to raise awareness about environmental issues, specifically about marine biodiversity and ecosystems, highlighting the importance of its conservation and about marine litter, highlighting the importance of its reduction. Therefore the participants will become aware of these relevant topics, affecting global citizenship.At the same time we intend to involve youngsters with European politics and decisions, and motivate them to become participative and active citizens so the main deliverable of this exchange, will be the writing of a manifest and its roadmap, with suggestions to reach the goals proposed by the Green Deal in terms of biodiversity and plastics. Summing up, we will encourage young people to take part in European democracy.All the mentioned before, will allow young people to learn through non-formal and informal education, to develop and share their knowledge and experience and to build skills such as critical thinking, team-working, creativity, entrepreneurship or conflict resolution; allowing them to tackle 21th century global challenges.The fact this exchange is thought for youngsters coming from different European countries (that are going to live, work, share, learn and discuss together during 11 days), will allow the participants to discover new cultures, habits, ways of thinking and life styles. Additionally they will strengthen values such as solidarity, democracy, friendship, tolerance and respect whilst experiencing cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. Offering them at the same time a mobility opportunity; may be the first experience of this type in their life.Further tan this and regarding the European Youth Strategy 2019-2027, this exchange will engage youngster with environmental issues and European policies, whilst empowering them to become agents of change in their own local communities releasing their multiplier potential. Additionally it will allow them to connect and create a network of European citizens and/or entities concerned about the environment. Regarding the youth goals, with this action we are connecting youth to Europe, creating a space for information, constructive dialogue and participation; highlighting the importance of European environmental policies.<< Activities >>We intend to develop a youth exchange in Donostia-San Sebastián (Spain), with 48 youngsters from Spain, France and Germany. The participants will live and work together on the Green Deal and European policies related to environmental issues; during 11 days.One of the goals of this youth exchange is to prepare a manifesto and its roadmap with different measures and recommendations for the to European countries, so they can implement successfully the Green Deal. To facilitate this and the work during the activity, it is structured in 7 blocks, which follow a logical order.Block 1 - Arrival: reception and accommodation of the participants, that will receive practical and useful information related to the activity and the venue and will have time to meet their partners.Block 2 - Introduction: the participants will receive information about the ERASMUS + program, the Green Deal and the activity objectives.Block 3 - Plastics: activities and training related to the plastic issue.Block 4 - Biodiversity: activities and training related to biodiversity.Block 5 - Plastic-biodiversity interaction: activities and training related to the impact that plastics have on marine biodiversity.Block 6 - Find a solution: avtivities and training on the measures that can be taken to reduce plastics and preserve biodiversity at different levels.Block 7 - Green Youth Manifesto: drafting the manifesto and its roadmap.All blocks (exceptin number 7) follow the same structure. There will be 'more theoretical' sessions, that will serve as an introduction and will help the participants to contextualize the topics on which we are going to work. These will be accompanied by other more practical ('hands on work') in which the participants themselves, will direct the development and work on the different topics. In addition, there will also be activities 'on the ground' such as visits or routes, which will allow them to experience and understand better all the explained before.All sessions will take place in the context of non-formal (aimed at acquiring specific knowledge) or informal education (through daily experiences and relations with the environment and the other participants).Block 7 will be exclusively practical and the youngsters will draft collaboratively the manifesto and its roadmap, using different work and evaluation methodologies to do it.A detailed explanation of the programm of activities is included in the 'Annexes' section of this form.About the participants, they will be 20 to 30 years old and they will have a strong interest in environmental issues and/or European policies. Preferabley they should have previous experience on this, such as activism in an NGO or in a citizen movement but they shouldn't have previous international experience, because we want to give that opportunity to youngster who didn't enjoy it yet. In addition, we want this youth exchange to be an opportunity for young people in a delicate economic situation, who normally con't have access to them.We ensure gender balance, because 50% of the places are guaranteed for women and the remaining 50% for men.Regarding group leaders, the profile would be very similar to the previous one, but we would like to have your previous international experience and, above all, experience working with young people. << Impact >>Regarding the participants in the short term, we expect to:- Increase their sensitivity and interest in environmental issues.- Increase their interest in European environmental policies and their transposition at national and regional level.- Increase their participation in the political scene at all levels: local, regional and European.- Promote amongst them the exchange of ideas, opinions and knowledge; tolerance and respect; intercultural dialogue; solidarity; critical thinking and teamwork.- Banish stereotypes about other countries, cultures, ways of thinking and working or lifestyles.- Help them to reflect on their learning.- Arouse their curiosity about the educational opportunities offered by Europe. Opportunities that will allow them to develop on a personal and professional level, as it happens with the ERASMUS + program itself.- Prepare a manifesto and its roadmap with different measures and recommendations for the to European countries, so they can implement successfully the Green Deal.Regarding the participants in the long term; we believe that almost two weeks participating in an experience like this (where coexistence and learning are continuous) is enough to start a process of reflection; that may encourage young people to question certain things and act. This in the end is an empowering experience that may lead them to become changemakers in their local communities; releasing their multiplier potential. In other words, we want to be catalysts for change.Furthermore (as we have already said) if we arouse their curiosity about European mobility possibilities; may be in the future they would like to carry out a long-term international experience. This would lead to a radical change in their life, the way they see it and their idea of Europe; that would have endless positive impacts; such as skills development or an increment of their chances to find a job in the future.Regarding the partner organizations in the short term; this first stage of project preparation is already being a challenge and a continuous learning process; that will last until the end of the activity. We are improving our teamworking skills, finding synergies, learning about other working methodologies or solving problems together; just to mentiona a few examples.We will continue learning during the development of the exchange (knowing the realities of other countries and their youth), beyond the experience gained from organizing an event like this; which requires great coordination and adaptation capacity.In the long term; this exchange represents the first stage of an alliance that will allow SFE and SEO/BirdLife to join forces and carry out a broad variety of projects related to environmental protection. Within the ERASMUS + program, we would like GYM to be an annual event. It would have a bigger impact in all the involved stakeholders because it would allow us to improve it every year, obtaining better results with time. We also would liket to replicate it in other areas. This first edition will take place in the Cantabrian area, but in the future it could be carried out in the Mediterranean or Atlantic area; adapting the project to the needs of each area and its participants.Regarding the participating entities (that are going to collaborate with us, but aren't partners) and individuals, we want to create a network at the European level of entities and individuals sensitized with environmental issues; that have a positive impact on their local communities. This network would be expanded annually, in case this event could be exploited and replicated in other geographic areas with different realities. For SEO/BirdLife and Surfrider Foundation Europe, alliances and networks of entities and people are very important and fully integrated into our philosophy and work. It is only necessary to mention BirdLife International, the federation of more than 100 conservation entities around the world, of which SEO/BirdLife is part.