In May 2023, youth workers from France took part in the Erasmus+ training course Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development in Island Communities, held on the vibrant island of Guadeloupe. This international project brought together participants from across Europe and the Caribbean to explore pressing environmental issues and search for sustainable, community-driven solutions. More than just a learning program, the course became a platform for dialogue, cultural exchange, and transformative reflection. For the French team, representing the NGO Together for Youth, it was a moment of clarity—a chance to look deeply into the challenges at home, especially those affecting marginalized youth in urban environments.
Back in France, the team had already been working on topics related to social inclusion, particularly in areas where young people from immigrant and low-income backgrounds faced limited opportunities. In May 2023, these problems were growing more visible, especially in the outer neighborhoods of cities like Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. These areas, often referred to as “banlieues,” were marked by high unemployment, social isolation, and lack of trust between youth and local institutions. Young people living there felt disconnected from national conversations on climate and sustainability. Environmental topics were often seen as distant concerns—something for privileged circles, not something relevant to their daily lives.
At the same time, these communities were among the most affected by environmental injustice. Poor air quality, heat islands, and limited access to green spaces made life harder in already challenging environments. In schools and youth centers, environmental education was minimal, and even when it was offered, it often failed to speak to the realities of life in these neighborhoods. Young people wanted to be involved—but they didn’t see themselves reflected in the conversation.
The experience in Guadeloupe shifted the French participants’ understanding of what inclusion in sustainability could look like. In this island community, they saw local youth involved in real environmental work—planting trees, managing waste, restoring coastal ecosystems—despite limited resources. What stood out most was how environmental projects were used as tools for social connection and empowerment. Local NGOs made sure to include young people from different backgrounds, valuing their knowledge and creativity. The training also encouraged honest exchanges between European and Caribbean participants, where discussions about privilege, heritage, and identity were welcomed. These moments sparked something deeper in the French group: a recognition that environmental action and social inclusion must go hand in hand.
Returning to France, the Together for Youth team designed a new initiative called Green Voices Banlieue. It was built on the belief that environmental work can be a powerful tool for empowerment—if it is made accessible, relevant, and youth-led. The project aimed to engage marginalized young people in environmental projects that connected with their lived experience. Rather than bringing in outside experts, the team trained local peer leaders—young people from the neighborhoods themselves—to lead workshops, clean-up days, and small urban gardening projects. These leaders spoke the language of the community, understood the local dynamics, and knew how to inspire others.
One of the first activities took place in a youth center in the northern suburbs of Paris. What started as a workshop about waste quickly turned into a broader conversation about dignity, space, and identity. The young participants didn’t just want to collect trash—they wanted to redesign how their streets looked and felt. With guidance from youth workers and artists, they created a mural about environmental justice, next to a community-built recycling station. It wasn’t just about keeping the area clean—it was about reclaiming pride in where they lived.
The project expanded to three cities within the first six months. Small, visible changes in public spaces—new plants, cleaner parks, youth-led awareness campaigns—helped shift the public image of these neighborhoods. Local media started covering the activities, highlighting the work of young leaders who had previously been ignored. At schools, teachers began inviting youth ambassadors from the project to speak about environmental topics in a way that felt real and grounded. Some local politicians even visited the project sites and promised to include more youth voices in future urban planning discussions.
The impact was more than visual. For many participants, it was the first time they felt seen as contributors to society, not just as “at-risk” youth. They developed skills in organizing, public speaking, teamwork, and even urban design. Several participants expressed new interest in environmental careers or civic engagement. But beyond career plans, there was a stronger message taking shape: that every voice matters, and every space has potential for renewal.
Together for Youth continued supporting these efforts through mentoring, micro-grants, and storytelling campaigns that lifted the voices of young people who had often been left out of mainstream narratives. The feedback from communities was overwhelmingly positive, with more parents and neighbors joining the clean-ups, planting days, and youth-led events. In some places, the initiative even helped reduce tensions between groups, replacing frustration with a shared sense of ownership and care for the environment.
Looking forward, the team behind Green Voices Banlieue believes this model can grow. They are working on adapting the idea to smaller towns and rural areas, where youth also feel isolated and underrepresented. Their vision is not just about planting trees or painting walls—it’s about changing the way society values the contributions of young people from every background.
The training in Guadeloupe offered more than tools and theory. It provided a new lens to look at both environmental and social issues as connected parts of a larger system. It taught participants that inclusion is not about giving space—it’s about creating space together. And most importantly, it showed that real change often begins in the places where it’s needed most—with young people ready to lead, if only given the chance.