GREENS - Growing Responsible European engagement in Environment and Nature through Sport

The GREENS project is a partnership between the Municipality of Medulin in Croatia, the Municipality of Pöls-Oberkurzheim in Austria, and the Sports Community Medulin. It aims to encourage healthy lifestyles for children and youth athletes, promote environmental sustainability through water and winter sports, foster inclusivity and diversity in sports and environmental practices, and promote cross-cultural understanding between children and youth from Austria and Croatia. One of the key priorities of the project is inclusion and diversity, with a focus on the participation of children and youth with fewer opportunities. The project brings added value at the EU level by building the capacity of participating organizations to engage in cross-border cooperation and networking, through the implementation of mobility activities and the common development of sports programs aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and environmental sustainability among young people. By promoting water and winter sports, which are highly dependent on nature and climate, the project creates a sense of appreciation and care for the environment. Project activities include training sessions for coaches and instructors, environmental sustainability workshops for young athletes, and two sports events in Austria and Croatia. The project will also culminate in a final conference to present and evaluate project results and achievements. Overall, the project targets 50 children and young athletes per sports event and aims to benefit a total of 100 persons, including coaches, instructors, and project partners. The expected outputs include developed sports programs, training materials, and practical skills for environmental sustainability, which will be shared through digital tools and technologies. The long-term effect of the project is creation of a generation of young people who are passionate about protecting the environment and living healthy, active lifestyles.