EUFED

EUFED international multi-measure project
"From environmental educaion to climae change"

What makes us unique as Youth Hostels? We provide accommodation and opportunities for youth mobility, but in addition we also provide non-formal learning opportunities as an experience which is social, sustainable, intercultural and educational in its broadest sense.

EUFED wants to support its members in sharing good practices more widely and examining the potential for integrating eco-labels and educational programmes for sustainable development. The objective of the project "From environmental educaion to climae change" was to develop new ideas related to climate change, low carbon thinking and education for sustainable development, taking into account that each Youth Hostel has its own potential to put these aspects into practice.

The multi-measure project started with a seminar in Bled (Slovenia), from 20th to 23rd April 2009, and was hosted by PZS (the Slovenian Youth Hostel Association). It gathered participants and guest speakers from European Youth Hostel Associations, NGOs and DG Environment of the European Commission. The objectives were to share best practices, to learn about sustainable activities and certification, and to develop more information material to support Youth Hostels in communicating sustainability messages to guests and applying sustainability actions.

To follow, from 8th to 12th May 2009, a study visit to Mirow and Brilon Youth Hostels (Germany) gave the opportunity to receive a first hand experience on how to develop, manage and certificate environmental education programmes at different levels. Both Youth Hostels are multi-certificated, one is located in the North-Eastern part and the other in the Western part of the country. Moreover, the participants learned about how non-formal environmental learning tools are implemented “in field” and how to adjust them to school curricula. A long-term perspective was underlined as the learning processes were continued at school. A very important aspect is the focus on self-guided learning approaches including team-building and "chill-out" tools promoting communication skills, conflict management and knowledge about healthy food and sustainable lifestyle. In addition, a holistic and sustainable approach in building and operating a Youth Hostel was presented and the participants got an in-depth insight in the planning, design and management of the eco-efficient Youth Hostels, which are equipped with different eco-innovative technologies and which stimulate the local economy by their demand for regional and organic food supply.

On this occasion, Brilon Youth Hostel was awarded as the first CO2 neutral Youth Hostel in Germany through the CO2NTRA initiative.

More information:
Bled seminar on EU FED website: ww.eufed.org/EN/events/Events/BledSeminar.html#3
Brilon certification press releases :
1. www.jugendherberge.de/de/infos/presseservice/artikel/index.jsp?id=438 
2. www.derwesten.de/nachrichten/staedte/brilon/2009/5/11/news-119490511/detail.html 
3. www.derwesten.de/nachrichten/staedte/brilon/2008/2/24/news-25873466/detail.html