In June 2024, a group of youth workers traveled to Paola, Italy, to take part in the Erasmus+ training course “Green Playgrounds: Promoting Inclusion and Environmental Awareness through Sports.” Organized under the Erasmus+ program, this international training aimed to connect youth work with the power of sports to build more inclusive, environmentally conscious, and responsible communities. The project brought together young professionals from all over Europe and gave them the chance to explore how physical activity could become more than just movement—how it could also inspire learning, leadership, teamwork, and environmental care. Among those who joined the training were youth workers from Hungary, representing the NGO “Changemakers ÓE,” with a mission to engage and empower young people to create positive social change.
Before joining the project, many youth workers in Hungary had observed that both inclusion and environmental education still had gaps within youth activities, especially in urban areas. In some neighborhoods of Budapest and smaller towns, young people from different cultural or social backgrounds often did not interact much outside school. Sports could have been a uniting tool, but many programs were focused only on competition, not inclusion. At the same time, environmental awareness among young people was uneven. Some youth were well-informed about recycling and sustainability, while others lacked access to quality education or inspiration to change habits. The team at Changemakers ÓE was searching for creative methods to bring these two important topics—social inclusion and environmental responsibility—into one engaging format. The opportunity to participate in “Green Playgrounds” came at the perfect moment.
The training experience in Paola opened many new doors. From the very beginning, it became clear that sports can carry powerful messages beyond fitness. The activities were not just about winning games, but about creating safe and inclusive spaces for all participants, regardless of background, language, or ability. One of the most eye-opening sessions for the Hungarian team was about designing inclusive games that emphasized teamwork, respect, and fun. Participants worked together to create sports-based activities that helped youth feel valued and included. Another important part of the training focused on how to connect physical activities with environmental awareness. Through creative exercises and storytelling, participants learned how to bring sustainability topics into sports sessions. For example, some activities involved games that taught young people how to sort waste or reduce water use, all while running or working together as a team.
The international group brought many different experiences and methods to the table. A participant from the Netherlands showed how they used biking events to clean local parks, while a youth worker from Croatia presented a beach volleyball tournament that included climate quizzes between matches. These examples gave everyone fresh ideas. Workshops about EU values such as solidarity, equality, and diversity helped participants see how sports can be used to teach more than just physical skills. They can also be a mirror for the society we want to build. The week in Paola was full of exchange, creativity, and deep reflection on how youth work can shape young people not just as players, but as changemakers in their communities.
After returning home to Hungary, the Changemakers ÓE team decided to develop a new initiative based on what they had learned. They called it “Green Games Budapest,” a youth-led program that combines sports with eco-education and inclusion. The project started with weekly sports events in community parks in Budapest. Every session had a specific theme, such as diversity, waste reduction, water protection, or healthy lifestyles. Before the games began, a short introduction helped participants understand the topic. During the activities, young people played adapted sports games that reflected the theme. For example, in a session on recycling, teams had to collect and sort colored objects that represented different waste materials. In a diversity-focused session, mixed teams were created with specific roles that encouraged communication and empathy.
The sessions were open and free to everyone, and soon young people from different backgrounds started joining. Some came from local high schools, others were part of youth shelters or migrant communities. The goal was not to compete, but to connect. The team also invited local youth leaders to help lead the sessions, giving them the chance to grow their leadership and organizational skills. Inspired by the training in Italy, the Hungarian team also included a reflection circle after each activity, where participants could share what they learned and how it connects to their lives. This helped build understanding and motivation to act.
The impact of “Green Games Budapest” grew week by week. Participants not only enjoyed the sessions but also began to share ideas for new activities. Some of them suggested creating an eco-sports tournament in their school. Others asked how they could become volunteers. The team from Changemakers ÓE saw a clear change in the attitude of the young people involved. They became more open to working with others, more respectful of differences, and more curious about how they could protect the environment. The project also caught the attention of local schools and community centers, some of which invited the team to give workshops or co-organize events.
In the months following the project launch, over 100 young people took part in at least one session. Several participants returned week after week, and some even started planning their own small events in their neighborhoods. The project received support from a local municipality, which offered a space for outdoor activities and helped promote the sessions. It also built partnerships with environmental NGOs and sports associations who shared their tools and experience.
The Changemakers ÓE team realized that sports can be a common language for young people. It doesn’t matter where they come from or what language they speak. When they play together, they build trust, respect, and cooperation. Adding environmental learning to that experience makes it even more powerful. Through games, discussions, and shared goals, youth begin to understand that they have the power to care for their planet and community. This was exactly the lesson of the Erasmus+ training in Paola: that with creativity and collaboration, simple tools like a ball, a field, and a group of young people can become the starting point for deep and lasting change.
Looking ahead, Changemakers ÓE plans to continue and expand “Green Games Budapest.” The vision is to create a toolkit so that schools, youth groups, and NGOs in other parts of Hungary can use the same method. The team also wants to involve more international partners to keep the exchange of ideas alive. They are exploring new Erasmus+ opportunities to reconnect with participants from Paola and build an even stronger European network of youth workers who believe in the power of play.
Youth today are ready to lead change. They are creative, passionate, and connected to global challenges. What they need are spaces to grow and tools that help them learn by doing. Projects like “Green Playgrounds” and “Green Games Budapest” show that sports can be more than fun. They can be a space for dialogue, education, and community building. When youth work is rooted in inclusion, responsibility, and teamwork, it creates not just better games—but better futures.