The project endeavors to address the pressing need for energy sobriety and ecological change among the youth population through innovative online training initiatives. By focusing on raising awareness and readiness in these crucial areas, our goal is to equip young individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to the challenges posed by ongoing environmental changes and escalating energy costs. Recognizing the growing interest among young people to make a positive impact and effect meaningful change in their communities, our project aims to empower them with the tools and resources needed to realize their aspirations and confront both present and future challenges head-on.

To achieve these objectives, the project will follow a systematic implementation approach involving collaboration with stakeholders to establish a robust methodical framework grounded in thorough research. This framework will inform the development of tailored curricular designs and content, meticulously crafted to address the specific needs and interests of the target demographic. Leveraging insights gleaned from research findings and stakeholder input, the project will create engaging online training materials to be delivered through a purpose-built e-learning platform. This platform will serve as a centralized hub for accessing educational resources and interactive learning modules designed to foster understanding and action on energy sobriety and ecological adaptation.

Environmental change has a strong impact on the construction industry, which creates a need for new skills, competences and knowledge in the workforce to achieve a green transition in construction.

In this context, Green Circle project aims to identify, develop, test, and assess the use of micro-credentials in the construction sector to achieve a green transition, while demonstrating the potential for mainstreaming and transfer to other sectors.

Green Circle project will not simply offer a collection of learning resources. The work carried out will show how a rigorous description of job profiles, learning needs, learning opportunities, and the relationships between them can, with appropriate technological support, facilitate the emergence of an ecosystem based on micro-credentials, and linking skills providers, employees, potential entrants to the workforce, and employers.

The project aims to enhance the understanding and practice of positive parenting through accessible resources, training, and engagement of diverse families. By focusing on playful parenting, it seeks to improve parenting practices and foster social cohesion. The project will develop a variety of tools, including a multi-language resource portal, card sets for parents, and an open-access online course. Additionally, it will offer a training curriculum that will be freely available online.

To ensure the quality of the materials, Local Advisory Groups will be established in each partner country. The project will also conduct “Make It Work” workshops, both online and offline, to broaden its impact. Key stages of the project will feature Multiplier Events to promote and disseminate resources. An international training event in Greece and a piloting process with parents in partner countries will further refine the project’s tools and strategies.

The expected outcomes include increased positive parenting practices, reduced social isolation, and enhanced parenting intervention quality. This initiative strives to create a lasting, positive impact on families and communities by providing easily accessible and effective parenting resources.

The idea for the Becoming Parents project came from a series of civil conversations between parents in different European countries who in many ways face similar difficulties. We recognized that, although we have different parenting patterns, different parenting strategies, different ages and circumstances, and even our children are not necessarily the same age – we have something in common. Parenthood is certainly one of the most defining aspects of our lives, and it affects every other aspect of life. If we are comfortable with it, because we can choose the right framework within which to run the family, parenthood can give us wings. However, if we misjudge our own strengths, energies and personality, and place unrealistic expectations on ourselves for the sake of our children, we can put a heavy burden on ourselves by parenting. The aim of the project is to empower young men and women in their role as parents. Parenting education is achieved through the use of positive psychology, emotional intelligence and literacy tools, using methods from three areas – storytelling, drama education and symbolwork. Parenting is a basic importance for the society as a whole, as good parenting is the base for everything in the early childhood development. We would like to develop the soft skills of current and future young parents.

Tools will be designed using methods of positive psychology, symbolwork, emotional intelligence and mindfulness as well as coaching, character education and motivational techniques (drama). The Resource Guide will consist tools for professionals and the Parental Guide has ideas directly for young parents. We will write a syllabus and organise a transnational training for professionals and local training events for professionals and young parents in person or online.

Professionals who participate in our training sessions and use the Resource Guide should be able to support young and prospective parents through practical exercises. The soft skills of young parents who use the Parental Guide and participate in our trainings should develop in the targeted areas, increase their confidence and develop their self-awareness.