Key Information
| Dates: | 25/03/2026 - 02/04/2026 |
| Arrival day: | 25/03/2026 |
| Departure day: | 02/04/2026 |
| Location: | Castelletto di Cuggiono, Milan, Italy |
| Participants needed: | 3 participants from Romania |
| Deadline to apply: | 11/01/2026 via geyc.ro/mobility |
๐ก About the Project
GIAN (Green Initiatives Anchoring Nature) is an immersive educational mobility programme designed to strengthen community organising and grassroots mobilisation competences among youth workers across Europe. Through an intensive and participatory training course, participants engage in hands-on learning, critical reflection, and peer exchange, gaining practical tools to empower communities and support democratic participation. The training experience is intentionally demanding and transformative. Participants are encouraged to rethink traditional organisational models and to adopt more inclusive, community-driven approaches to leadership and action. At the core of the project is a strong emphasis on mobilising young people for sustainability and regeneration, recognising the vital role that local communities play in addressing environmental and social challenges. Throughout the programme, participants explore the core principles of community organising and social activism, focusing on how to engage, motivate, and support young people in collective action processes. Particular attention is given to translating these principles into concrete, locally rooted initiatives that respond to real community needs. Participants are supported in developing step-by-step local action plans or campaigns aimed at the protection, restoration, and improvement of ecosystems in their own communities. These plans are grounded in local realities and integrate community mapping, stakeholder engagement, and participatory decision-making methods to ensure meaningful and sustainable impact.✨ Highlight:
This project is hosted by Young Effect Association and supported by the Erasmus+ Programme.
๐ฏ Objectives
- Strengthen participants’ understanding of community organising, social activism, and ecological principles in order to mobilise young people towards sustainability, regeneration, and inclusive community development.
- Support youth workers in designing concrete, step-by-step local actions or campaigns aimed at the protection and improvement of ecosystems, grounded in community-based and participatory approaches.
- Foster international peer learning and cooperation among youth workers, inspiring the development of follow-up Erasmus+ initiatives focused on youth empowerment, social activism, and community organising.
๐ฅ Target Group
- Youth workers, youth leaders, and social workers (volunteers or employed staff)
- Age: 18+ (preferably 20–35 years old)
- Good level of English
- Motivated and open to learning and sharing experiences
- Gender balance will be ensured
๐ About the Location
๐ Castelletto di Cuggiono – a picturesque village near Milan, surrounded by lush nature in the Ticino Valley Natural Park, the first river park in Europe.
๐ก Venue: “La Scala di Giacobbe” guest house
๐ How to Get There
✉️ Travel plans must be approved by the organizers: mobility@geyc.ro in line with GEYC's Travel Policy
๐ถ Financial Details
✅ Covered by Erasmus+:๐ Your contribution: a cofunding of 200 RON covering community management and administrative costs not included in the European funding.
Waived for: GEYC’s executive team, Board, interns, volunteers, European Fellows, and participants with fewer economic opportunities. If you have a valid MC Voucher you can use it to waive your contribution.
✈️ Travel Policy
Please purchase your flight directly from the company’s official site (for example: Wizz Air, Ryanair, Lufthansa, TAROM, etc.). Third-party platforms such as Kiwi, Skyscanner, or eSky may be used to search for flights, but not to purchase them.
Wait for an official selection confirmation email from the organizers before booking your trip.
Select low-cost or direct flights whenever possible. Checked baggage, seat selection, in-flight meals, or other extra options are not automatically reimbursed and must be pre-approved by GEYC or the hosting organization.
You must provide all the following for reimbursement:
- Invoices (saved as PDFs – see how to do it here)
- Boarding passes (physical copies or screenshots)
- Physical tickets for any bus, train, or local transport used