In May 2024, a diverse group of youth workers came together in Prague, Czech Republic, to participate in the Erasmus+ project titled “Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development: A Global Perspective.” This training course was created to explore how cultural heritage can support sustainable development goals and be used as a powerful tool for inclusion, education, and community action. Hosted in a city rich with historical beauty and cultural stories, the program gave participants the opportunity to connect across borders, learn new methods, and exchange experiences. For the youth worker representing Copernicus Berlin from Germany, this international experience became a turning point in how heritage is seen—not just as something from the past, but also as a living part of the present and future.
In Germany, many cities and towns are full of historical buildings, local traditions, and stories passed down through generations. However, in recent years, challenges have started to appear. Urban development sometimes pushes out cultural spaces, and younger generations are losing interest in local traditions. At the same time, the climate crisis and issues related to sustainability are becoming more visible, especially in cities. There is a growing need to combine old wisdom with new ideas. Many young people want to be part of the solution but do not always know how their cultural roots can play a role. Before the training in Prague, there was little space in Copernicus Berlin’s work to connect heritage and sustainability in a structured way.
The week-long program in Prague was an eye-opening experience. From the beginning, the sessions focused on showing how cultural heritage and sustainable development can work together. Youth workers from different parts of Europe shared how their communities protect traditions while promoting environmental and social responsibility. A visit to a small neighborhood initiative stood out in particular. In this community, residents had saved an old factory from being destroyed and transformed it into a space for ecological education, cultural events, and sustainable food markets. The story showed what is possible when local people value their history and connect it with today’s needs. Another strong moment was a workshop where participants learned how to design small projects that integrate storytelling, education, and sustainability, using simple tools and local knowledge.
Back in Berlin, the youth worker felt inspired to launch a new initiative named “Living Heritage Berlin.” The idea was to involve young people from multicultural backgrounds in discovering the cultural layers of their own neighborhoods while learning how to build greener, more sustainable communities. The first step was to organize community walks, where elders and local historians shared stories about old buildings, community centers, and cultural symbols. Young participants recorded the walks and turned them into short audio tours in different languages. Each tour finished with an activity that connected the story to an environmental action, like planting herbs in traditional clay pots, making eco-friendly art using old photos, or learning traditional food preservation methods.
These events created a strong sense of belonging among the participants. Many of the young people involved came from families who had moved to Germany from different countries, and for the first time, they saw their own traditions as valuable and connected to the wider German story. The project also worked closely with local artists and educators to create workshops around themes like circular economy, traditional crafts, and memory through sustainable materials. As part of this journey, participants developed their own micro-projects. Some wrote short poems or songs about their family stories and their hopes for a better environment. Others created posters that mixed old family photos with calls to action for climate justice. These were later displayed in public libraries and youth centers around Berlin.
The impact of “Living Heritage Berlin” was visible from the first weeks. Youth engagement increased, especially in areas where participation is usually low. Schools and local councils began to express interest in joining the activities. A small grant allowed the project to expand into new neighborhoods. Parents and grandparents became involved as storytellers and volunteers, which helped strengthen the ties between generations. Even city officials visited one of the exhibitions and shared their appreciation for how the project brought together different sectors of the community. As a result, Copernicus Berlin started working on a longer-term strategy to include heritage-based sustainability into its regular youth programs.
Through this initiative, the organization also built new partnerships with museums, environmental groups, and urban gardeners. These collaborations led to new activities, including “story gardens” where old folk tales were told around plant beds, and youth-led interviews with artisans who still use traditional methods to make clothes or furniture. In this way, the project grew beyond just an idea—it became a movement of people who believe that remembering the past can help create a better future.
The Erasmus+ project in Prague gave the participant from Germany the tools, inspiration, and motivation to see their local context in a new way. It showed that heritage is not about walls and monuments only. It is also about values, practices, and people. It proved that when youth are trusted and supported, they can bring creativity and energy into making their communities more sustainable and inclusive.
Looking ahead, Copernicus Berlin plans to continue “Living Heritage Berlin” with new partners and to involve more schools and youth centers. The organization dreams of building a toolkit in different languages so that others in Europe can start similar projects. The long-term vision is to create a generation of young people who are not only proud of where they come from but also ready to build a world where sustainability and cultural respect go hand in hand. The project in Prague was not just an event. It was a beginning. A beginning of something meaningful, rooted in the past but always looking forward.