As part of the Community Café Youth Participation Activity, funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, a series of four online workshops and webinars was organised throughout May 2026. One of the project’s key objectives was to create accessible online learning opportunities that would inspire young people to engage with sustainability, community participation, and social change, while connecting them with inspiring practitioners and real-life initiatives from across Europe.
The online events provided participants with opportunities to learn directly from activists, ecovillage residents, community practitioners, and municipal representatives. Together, they explored practical examples of sustainability, youth participation, storytelling, and pathways for becoming actively involved in community projects.
Across the four events, more than 202 people registered. While not everyone was able to attend the live sessions, recordings were shared with all registered participants, ensuring that everyone had access to the knowledge and resources presented.
6 May 2026 – Free Online Workshop: Storytelling as a Tool for Change
The first event in the series focused on the power of storytelling as a tool for social change and empowerment. Participants explored how personal stories can inspire action, amplify underrepresented voices, and strengthen both individuals and communities.
The workshop was facilitated by Bianca Ryan, retreat leader, somatic therapist, yoga teacher, and storyteller, alongside Ashley Sheets, a degrowth and environmental labour activist working to strengthen collective communities through sustainable living.
The workshop attracted a smaller group which created an intimate and supportive atmosphere. Participants felt comfortable sharing personal experiences and discussing the challenges they face in expressing their own stories. Through guided reflection and inspiring examples from activism, the session encouraged participants to recognise the value of their own voices and left many feeling empowered and more confident to share their experiences in ways that can contribute to positive social change.
🎥 Watch the workshop recording here.
14 May 2026 – Webinar: Success Stories from Ecovillages
The second webinar showcased inspiring sustainability initiatives from four ecovillages across Europe:
- SerVivo (Portugal)
- Ängsbacka (Sweden)
- Sunseed Desert Technology (Spain)
- Catfarm (France)
Representatives from each community presented practical examples of sustainable living, shared stories of their projects, reflected on challenges they had encountered, and highlighted the lessons they had learned along the way. Many of the speakers were young people actively living in these communities and contributing to the Community Café project, providing authentic first-hand perspectives.
The webinar generated strong engagement from participants, particularly young people, who asked numerous questions about how to visit, volunteer, or become involved with ecovillages. The session successfully connected participants with opportunities while showing that sustainable community living can take many different forms across Europe.
📹 Missed the live event? Watch the recording here.
21 May 2026 – Webinar: Showcase of Good Municipal Practices
This webinar highlighted how municipalities and NGOs are implementing sustainability initiatives while actively involving citizens and young people in decision-making processes.
Featured speakers included:
- Municipality of Guimarães (Portugal) – Guimarães 26 European Green Capital
- City of Vienna (Austria) – Vienna Climate Team: Together for a Good Climate
- Y4C (Portugal) – Y4C Goes to School
Participants learned about climate action projects, participatory governance, youth engagement initiatives, and examples of collaboration between municipalities and local communities.
The webinar proved to be highly informative and offered participants a valuable opportunity to engage directly with decision-makers and practitioners. Discussions highlighted practical approaches to implementing sustainability projects at the local level while encouraging participants to consider how similar initiatives could be developed within their own communities.
🎥 Watch the webinar recording here.
27 May 2026 – Webinar: Ecovillage Opportunities
The final webinar focused on practical pathways for becoming involved with ecovillages and international community experiences. Speakers included representatives of GEN Europe, Ecovillage Tours and Yes to Sustainability.
Participants were introduced to a wide range of opportunities, including:
- European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering
- Workaway placements
- Youth exchanges
- Erasmus+ training courses
- Ecovillage visits and tours
- International community gatherings
Despite experiencing some minor technical difficulties during the session, the webinar was well received. Participants remained highly engaged throughout and appreciated learning about the many ways they could connect with ecovillages, gain international experience, and participate in sustainability-focused learning opportunities.
The session successfully demystified the different routes into community living and inspired many attendees to explore future volunteering, mobility, and learning experiences within the ecovillage movement.
📹 Watch the event recording here.
Building Connections Beyond the Events
Together, these four online events demonstrated the value of creating accessible digital learning spaces that connect young people with inspiring practitioners, communities, and institutions working towards a more sustainable future. Through storytelling, practical case studies, exchanges with ecovillages, and dialogue with municipalities, participants gained knowledge, inspiration, and concrete opportunities for future engagement.
The strong level of participation, thoughtful discussions, and continued interest after the webinars highlighted the importance of combining online learning with ongoing access to resources. By sharing recordings with all 202 registered participants, the project ensured that the learning extended beyond the live sessions and continued to support the Erasmus+ objective of promoting meaningful youth participation, international cooperation, and active citizenship.
