News

On 12 March 2025, NBS EduWORLD partnered with UWC Robert Bosch College in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, to host a workshop focused on developing the Youth Inclusion Toolkit for Local Authorities. The interactive session, led by ICLEI Europe experts Clotilde Mahé, Shreya Utkarsh, and Simon Racé, engaged 20 students (aged 16-20) in exploring creative ways to involve youth in decision-making, particularly for Nature-based Solutions (NBS).

The students evaluated various tools, such as Hackathons, Youth Councils, Role-Playing Games (RPG), and Board Games, providing valuable insights for improving youth engagement.

Youth Councils were recognized as effective for fostering long-term involvement, with students highlighting the importance of voluntary participation and the representation of broader community interests. One student emphasized, “Engaging youth in student councils should be voluntary, otherwise it looks like nobody wants to participate.” Similarly, video games were identified as a powerful tool for engaging young people, with students proposing adaptations of popular games like Minecraft to incorporate sustainability features, allowing players to observe the consequences of their decisions.

Hackathons were praised for fostering creativity and teamwork, but students also stressed the need for balanced team experience and suggested offering rewards to boost participation. They further recommended pre-hackathon workshops to better prepare participants. When it came to role-playing games, students recognised their value in simulating government decision-making, though some expressed concern that engagement might vary. One student noted, “In some cultures, youth voices are not always valued,” while another cautioned, “The risk with role-playing games is that some young people will not take it seriously; it depends on personalities.”

Youth surveys were highlighted as easy to distribute through social media, but students pointed out their limitations in generating deep engagement and follow-up discussions. Incentives, such as prizes, were suggested to encourage participation.

The feedback from UWC Robert Bosch College students will play a key role in refining the Youth Inclusion Toolkit, ensuring it is both practical and youth-friendly. This collaboration marks an exciting step in the development of the NBS EduWORLD Youth Inclusion Toolkit, and we look forward to continuing to integrate youth perspectives into our work. By empowering young voices, we are helping to build stronger, more inclusive communities for a sustainable future.