In May 2023, a group of youth workers from Lithuania took part in the Erasmus+ training course Gender-Driven Sustainability, held in Benalmádena, Spain. The project brought together youth professionals from various parts of Europe to explore how gender equality and climate sustainability are deeply connected. Through workshops, discussions, and real-life case studies, the participants gained new tools and knowledge to support young people in promoting a more inclusive and sustainable future. The training was especially relevant at a time when global conversations about climate justice were becoming more urgent, yet still often missed the voices and needs of women and girls.
In Lithuania, the social situation at that time revealed several gaps. While gender equality had improved in some areas, women and girls still faced challenges, particularly in rural communities. Access to resources, education, and public participation remained unequal. In environmental topics, gender was rarely discussed. Climate change policies focused more on technology and economy, and less on social fairness. Many young people—especially young women—did not see themselves represented in environmental movements or decision-making spaces. Even in youth work, gender was usually treated as a separate issue from sustainability. As a result, many programs failed to include a full picture of how different groups experience climate challenges.
For the Lithuanian team from Tavo Europa, the training in Benalmádena was a moment of realization. It became clear that climate action without gender equality is incomplete. One of the most eye-opening parts of the program was learning how climate change affects people differently based on their gender. Participants studied examples from Europe and the Global South, where women faced more risk during natural disasters, had less access to clean energy, or were excluded from rebuilding efforts. Hearing stories from other youth workers showed how deeply social justice and environmental action are linked. What was especially inspiring was how grassroots projects led by women—like local food cooperatives, urban gardens, or community-led adaptation plans—were making real changes in both sustainability and inclusion.
The training also emphasized that youth work must lead by example. Youth workers are in a position to shape attitudes and offer tools for active citizenship. The program showed practical ways to include gender perspectives in daily activities—like choosing inclusive language, making space for all voices in group work, and designing programs that reflect the needs of different youth identities. Participants left Benalmádena with not just ideas, but a strong sense of responsibility.
After returning to Lithuania, Tavo Europa launched a pilot initiative called Equal Grounds. It aimed to bring gender perspectives into local youth climate action. The idea was simple: make space for girls, women, and gender-diverse youth to participate equally in environmental activities. In practice, this meant organizing a series of small local labs—workshops, storytelling events, and climate walks—where participants explored both sustainability and gender issues through dialogue, arts, and action. These labs were held in different regions, including towns where environmental education was usually less accessible.
One of the first labs took place in a community center in Šiauliai. Local youth were invited to share their daily environmental habits, their ideas for greener living, and also their experiences of inclusion or exclusion. Through these discussions, many girls said they were interested in topics like recycling, plant-based eating, or local transport, but often felt shy to speak up or take leadership. Some said that in their schools or sports clubs, boys were seen as the “natural” leaders in technical or outdoor projects. This feedback helped shape the next activities: participants created group charters for inclusive teamwork, learned how to plan green events together, and started mini-campaigns to promote visible youth-led sustainability actions in their towns.
The project quickly gained attention from local educators and municipal youth departments. Teachers noticed that when gender-sensitive methods were used, more students—especially girls—felt comfortable joining science clubs or sustainability actions. The project also encouraged partnerships with women-led NGOs and local decision-makers. In one town, a female city council member joined a youth roundtable, where she shared how she had worked on eco-mobility policy and supported young people in pushing for more green spaces in urban planning.
Beyond events, Equal Grounds became a platform. Tavo Europa created a simple guide in Lithuanian on gender-inclusive sustainability education, which was shared with schools and youth organizations across the country. The guide included workshop templates, inclusive facilitation tips, and examples of how to connect gender equality with climate goals in everyday youth work. The organization also started an online story series, where young people shared their own reflections on how gender and environment affect their lives. These personal voices helped make the project feel real, local, and emotionally engaging.
The long-term impact of the initiative was visible in both attitude and action. Youth workers who took part in the pilot reported more confidence in applying inclusive methods. Several schools asked for follow-up workshops, and some municipalities added inclusive language and equity indicators to their youth project calls. Even small changes, like having girls lead a community clean-up or choosing themes like “climate care” in debate clubs, showed that visibility and representation matter. More young people began to understand that environmental sustainability is not only about saving trees or recycling—it is also about fairness, dignity, and access for all.
Looking forward, the team at Tavo Europa believes that this training helped open a new direction in their work. It showed that youth-led change must be intersectional—it must include all realities, especially those that are often left out. The experience in Benalmádena created not only new knowledge but a new commitment. By connecting gender equality with sustainability, youth workers can build more creative, just, and lasting change.
The road ahead is still full of challenges. But as more young people find their voice, and more youth workers use inclusive practices, the future becomes more hopeful. Change does not come all at once—it grows in local actions, shared values, and small steps taken together. Gender-driven sustainability is not just a topic for training—it is a way to create a world where everyone matters, and where every person has the right to shape a healthy, fair, and green future.