9.5 Green volunteering, production and consumption
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Address:
Youth Research Platform / Ghent University
Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy
Henri Dunantlaan 2
BE-9000 Gent
Tel: +32 9 264 30 01
E-Mail: lieve.bradt@ugent.be; jessy.siongers@vub.be
Website:
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Green volunteering
The Flemish Government supports organisations, who increase young people’s competences on sustainability, through the Youth Decree of 2023. These Flemish-funded youth organisations encourage their participants to do green volunteering and organise activities on this topic. For example Globelink and JNM, or exchange organisations.
Globelink has projects for youth organisations. Globelink also co-organises an annual eco-contest in summer (Ecoshizzel) for playground initiatives, which receives financial support from the Flemish Government.
JNM, the Youth Association for Nature and the Environment, is a youth movement for all children and young people aged 7 to 26. JNM is going into nature together, romping around in the woods, going on a summer camp to the Ardennes, the sea, the Kempen… or maybe even somewhere abroad. JNM is managing and protecting nature together, actively rolling up your sleeves. And JNM has also been heard together with the voice of young people, on the street, online and in the press.
Various organizations offer young people in Flanders exchange opportunities where they learn intercultural experiences and skills, often in conjunction with a learning program. Examples include organizations such as AFS Flanders, Bosco Base and Bouworde. Such intercultural experiences can also be gained within the European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+ programmes. The organisation JINT promotes the roll-out of these European programmes in Flanders.
Other Flemish-funded organisations
In addition to specific youth organizations, there are also other organizations supported by the Flemish government, such as Natuurpunt, the largest nature conservation association in Flanders, and Mooimakers, an initiative that focuses on litter and illegal dumping campaigns.
Green production and consumption
Although green production and consumption is a very broad topic, there are a number of initiatives specifically aimed at young people that are worth mentioning below.
In Flanders, young people up to the age of 26 travel by public transport at a reduced rate on buses of ‘De Lijn’ (an independent agency of the Flemish government). In Belgium, young people also travel at a reduced rate on trains up to the age of 26 (NMBS - autonomous national government company).
Vlaanderen Circulair is a hub, inspirer and matchmaker for the circular economy in Flanders. As a partnership between governments, businesses, civil society and the knowledge sector, joint action is being taken to successfully continue the transition to a circular economy in Flanders. The Green Deal is a powerful yet accessible instrument for making agreements with the government in this regard.
Vlaanderen Circulair has also developed a serious game to introduce young people to circularity.
In addition, the Flemish Youth Council points out in various recommendations that young people believe their consumption patterns need to change in order to respond to climate challenges. They are calling for policy guidance and a stronger commitment to the circular economy.