<< Background >>Nature-based Solutions contribute positively to the European Green Deal, by enhancing biodiversity and supporting the delivery of a range of ecosystem services, such as Green Care services, including horticultural therapy. Horticultural therapy is a valuable, effective and environmentally sustainable way for the primary or complementary treatment of several mental illnesses and psychiatric conditions, including addiction, depression, autism, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and proved to be valuable in physical rehabilitation as well. Mental health problems are affecting more and more people in Europe, creating a barrier for people to access work and study, and lead a fulfilling life. By addressing the problem of health issues, our project operates towards the inclusion of disadvantaged people. In addition to that, horticultural therapy can provide stress release and burnout prevention for healthcare and social professionals, that signifies an added valued especially in these years of the pandemic. The potential of horticultural therapy is more and more recognized in Europe, although in this respect there are substantial differences between countries. In Austria and Italy horticultural therapy is widely used and acknowledged, with vocational and higher education possibilities in this field. In Hungary the practice of horticultural therapy has already started in several healthcare and social institutions, but there aren’t any specific horticultural therapy trainings or Hungarian language handbooks available. In Romania even the concept of horticultural therapy is scarcely known, with a very few institutions in the phase of introducing this method in practice. A comprehensive needs assessment survey conducted in Hungary and Romania showed a wide interest among healthcare and social professionals and institutions to learn about and introduce horticultural therapy into their practice.The Hortus Medicus project wants to address this situation by creating a horticultural therapy curriculum and related educational materials for Hungary and Romania, while further enriching existing curricula with impact measurement methodology and e-learning content in Austria and in Italy.The project involves partners from the above mentioned four countries: Austria, Italy, Hungary and Romania.<< Objectives >>The Hortus Medicus project aims to spread the recognition and the use of horticultural therapy in Hungary and Romania, to introduce a horticultural therapy training and related education materials in these countries, while enriching existing horticultural therapy curricula with impact measurement methodology and e-learning content in Austria and in Italy. These trainings will enable healthcare and social professionals with the necessary knowledge to introduce and apply horticultural therapy in their daily practice, thereby helping the effectiveness of their work with clients. Horticultural therapy skills will also empower these professionals with a useful burnout prevention methodology. Agricultural professionals, farmers can introduce horticultural therapy as a new function to their multifunctional farm. On the long run our project aims to help addressing the barriers arising from physical and mental health issues, to foster the inclusion of disadvantaged people who are affected by mental and physical health problems.The aim of the Hortus Medicus project is to create a comprehensive 120-hour horticultural therapy training with related educational materials and e-learning content, by developing a horticultural therapy curriculum, a horticultural therapy handbook, adapting existing and creating new educational resources in the field of horticultural therapy, compiling impact measurement recommendations and e-learning content. Our goal is to create an innovative training that can be provided in the traditional way of contact teaching or in the form of a blended learning, with theoretical parts in e-learning format.The created curriculum and education tools can also be transferred to higher education curricula, in the field of medical, social and agricultural studies as well.<< Implementation >>During our project the partners are going to create a 120-hour Horticultural therapy training curriculum together with a related Methodological guide for trainers. The curriculum will cover the following topics: basics of horticultural therapy, botany & garden maintenance, design and ecology of horticultural therapy gardens, target group-specific therapeutic methodology, impact measurement options in horticultural therapy. We will compile a Horticultural therapy handbook based on current knowledge available on the subject. An Impact measurement methodology recommendation will also be assembled in order to provide practical tools for professionals for assessing the efficiency of horticultural therapy sessions and processes. Digital content will be developed for a 40-hour e-learning training, covering the theoretical parts of the Horticultural therapy training curriculum, in order to make it possible to realize the training also in the form of blended learning. The work will be implemented in working groups for the different modules of the curricula, the methodology guide and the e-learning, the different chapters of the handbook, for the Impact measurement methodology, on the basis of Action plans jointly assembled and agreed upon. Continuous cooperation based on digital tools will be carried out.In order to achieve our goals, we plan effective and flexible project management, together with quality management ensuring the excellent quality of project results, the timely and efficient implementation of the project. The quality and usability of project results will be tested in pilot trainings in Hungary and Romania. During our project 6 international project meetings will be organized, with online project management meetings in every second month. To promote and share project results with stakeholders, 16 multiplier events will be organized, and diverse dissemination activities will be carried out, reaching local, regional and national audiences.<< Results >>We are planning to develop five project results: R1. Curriculum of Horticultural therapy training, a 120-hour curriculum R2. Horticultural therapy handbook, R3. Impact measurement methodology recommendation, R.4.Methodological guide for trainers, R.5. Digital content development for the Horticultural therapy assistant training, with 40 hours of e-learning. As a result of the project, healthcare and social professionals will have access to an ecologically sustainable and cost-effective tool that can be used with different vulnerable target groups. Farmers, who will provide on-site horticultural therapy location, will have the opportunity to stabilize their incomes by diversifying their activities.We also expect that as a result of our project, horticultural therapy will be more generally known, recognized and used. Institutions that did not apply horticultural therapy will become acquainted, recognize and introduce horticultural therapy into their practice. Institutions that already use gardening will gain a more professional insight and organize more efficient horticultural therapy sessions for their clients. Farmers who want to expand their multifunctional farming activities can introduce horticultural therapy into their activities. On the long run, many people experiencing health problems will have access a sustainable, nature-based way of treatment that can help their recovery and reintegration.

<< Objectives >>The main objective is to identify good practices and technologies related to rural activities, in order to raise awareness on sustainable management in agriculture, livestock and forestry activities, so that through an adequate use of natural resources, sustainable rural tourism is promoted, social, economic and environmental benefits are obtained to improve the infrastructure of services, stop depopulation and adaptation to climate change of the rural activities.<< Implementation >>Kick-off meeting. Assessment of the state of the artWorkshops:• Analysis of the environment of key aspects of rural economic activities, which develop rural tourism initiatives and potential.• Analysis of successful initiatives (also Digital) in rural tourism, identification of training needs and potential KA2 with future Intellectual outputs.Guide to good practices and results.Communication and dissemination.Share experiences and training to new organizations in the management of Erasmus+<< Results >>The main result of the project will be the identification of good practices of sustainable rural tourism related to agriculture, extensive livestock farming and other natural values, analysing the degree of existing digitalisation and the characterisation of the demand and supply of rural tourism, It will allow the identification of scenarios and will subsequently contribute to the design of proposals, initiatives and/or technological tools for their implementation in this field.

<< Objectives >>Ruralism4EU - “Enabling rural renaissance through Green and Digital transitions” is a small-scale initiative whose objective is to collect intelligence at EU level to support organizations working on rural development topics to offer better services for the rural communities they serve and build a momentum for the renaissance of EU rural areas by exchanging and capitalizing on the information gathered, but also on the experiences of project partners to build their capacities.<< Implementation >>1. Collection of best practices/case studies and stakeholders engagement to collect a series of case studies linked to rural revitalization, safeguarding and transferring traditional knowledge and “green” agricultural practices, digitalization for rural workers and population, to be shared and analyzed by project partners and external stakeholders.2. Two Exchange of Knowledge meetings where the results of the research will be presented and discussed among partners.<< Results >>A collection of case studies and best practices (approx 20) that promote the development of rural areas in the context of green and digital transitions and that have a high transferability potential;About 20 external stakeholders involved that can share their initiatives, as well as their needs and challenges in relation to the objectives of the research undertook by the partnershipTwo in-person exchange of knowledge meetings.

CONTEXT / BACKGROUND: The YINT partners have extensive experience in creative methodologies for ESD for diverse youth including hard to reach groups like migrants and refugees. Existing efforts facilitate social inclusion, environmental awareness, active citizenship and social enterprise. To date our partners relied heavily on delivering face to face content. In recent years partners started considering blended learning to reach wider audiences and this has become pertinent in the current pandemic situation Thus, this project builds on transforming existing innovative material into online and blended learning offerings. Most young migrants and excluded youth have access to mobile phones and educational materials will be mobile optimised. There will be a strong focus on creativity and the arts due to the need of exploring new ways and approaches to mobilize and engage a broader range of young people than what we do today. AIMThe aim of YINT is to make a valuable contribution to creating a resilient, low-carbon society in Europe in that the project raises awareness of climate-friendly lifestyle choices among young people and mobilizes young people to act and showcase youth empowerment in response to the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, the ‘Sustainable Green Europe’ and others. OBJECTIVES To engage with ‘hard to reach’ groups in the Erasmus+ project and in the wider and continuous work of the partner organisations. To strengthen capacity of the partner organisations and increase their impact in ESD for youth in a time of COVID by building deep and lasting partnerships and co-developing innovative intellectual outputs that respond creatively with blended learning opportunities and approaches targeting youth on a broader scale than its usual targets. Target groups will be the already engaged and the ‘unreachable’ youth. They will be either receiving, utilizing, shaping and/or testing the IO’s produced - whereas the participants in the project, the national teams, will be composed by both organisational representatives (youth workers/facilitators) and youth representatives. A number will be around 50 youth reached in all countries, making 300 in total. ACTIVITIESNew methods and approaches – based on arts, creativity and blended learningThe project will produce three intellectual outputs as tangible results of the project cooperation. Youth participants and youth leaders will be active in collating the results of the Intellectual Outputs from the target groups. IO1 Youth in Transition facilitator & teacher’s coursebook (on/offline actions)IO2 IO2 ESD-Community of Practice (COP)IO3 E-platform/Online Laboratory/App To ensure that the IOs get well utilised there will be two training events and 3 multiplier events. Lessons learned from the training will refine the IOs giving youth and youth leaders an active role in co-creation resulting in their ownership to apply the materials. i) Joint Staff training - Partner staff and youth leaders will gain skills and confidence to apply the IOs. ii) Youth bended learning - Young learners from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds to trial the IOs and gain exposure and empowerment. The multiplier events will be organised for local stakeholders in Austria, Sicily and Denmark to introduce them to the IOs and invite them to engage with them. EXPECTED RESULTSYOUTH LEADERS USING HANDBOOK & participants engaging in social inclusion & ecologically sustainable actions in target communities. ACTIVE COP in partner countries with youth contributing towards equity, social inclusion and sustainable development in their communities ENGAGED YOUTH WORKERS in partner countries sharing and exchanging on arts and artistic expression in citizenship including intercultural dialogue, stories for civic engagement, social justice and sustainable and low carbon life-styles, reaching and showcasing new methods and tools for youth workers across the field (both on and off line)EASY ACCESS ONLINE – Diverse inter-ethnic youth engaging with app and online laboratory in interactive creative initiatives supporting social integration and youth led content creation.E-PLATFORM creating a hub demonstrating Youth in Transition projects incorporating social enterprise, ecological sustainability and social integration produced by youth with examples, quizzes, films, stories for civic engagement and low carbon life-stylesIMPACT Improved social inclusion and ecological awareness for youth and their communities in partner countriesVibrant youth led COPs in partner countries & beyond contributing to socially just, resilient low carbon society. A movement of young people from socially diverse backgrounds sharing experiences digitally on civic engagement, social inclusion, social enterprise & eco friendly society Increased multi stakeholder engagement on youth social inclusion & climate awareness at local, European & international levels.

Rising greenhouse gas emissions the wasteful use of fossil fuels and the resulting impact on our climate have repercussions for the entire planet. In order to mitigate the impact of climate change, both the implementation of local initiatives and global projects will be of prime importance. In this regard, previous needs analyses have shown that private households, commercial kitchens, guest-orientated businesses and communities not only have a great demand for environmental measures but also a great potential for the implementation of sustainable schemes for the protection of their local environment. These professional fields have also a great impact on social and economic improvements for employees and staff members. The needs analyses and surveys in project partner countries have shown that vocational educators and trainers are insufficiently trained for a successful education on sustainability and its measures. So the target group of our project were vocational educators and trainers in the fields of home economics, guest-orientated businesses and sustainablity subjects. Research findings demonstrate that there exists a broad range of project results and materials in the area of sustainability, but teachers are often not able to use these results in a successful learning activity. A second problem was that in many EU-countries doesen´t exist a concept or a plan, how to teach sustainablity issues in vocational education and training. In this education areas also blended-learning activities were not frequently offered. The project provided a chance for vocational teachers and trainers to participate in extra-occupational (apprenticeship) training and learned to use sources of sustainability and digital learning tools to provide a successful and sustainable teaching. Teachers and trainers got the possibility of exchange of knowledge and teaching skills. Therefore the project reached the following objectives: The general objective was to contribute through digital and innovative lifelong learning for professionals to the improvement of ecological, economic and social sustainability in the EU. Specific objectives: 1- Development of a curriculum in the amount of 8 ECVET/ECTS and an corresponding blended-learning course with 4 modules (80 hours presence phase and 125 - 150 hours digital-learning including minimum 75 hours tutorials for self-study and 50 hours online-learning); 2- Pilot run of the course in Austria (UCAEP) and Finland (LAUREA) and optimizing of curriculum and blended-learning course; 3- Handbook with best-practice examples for vocational education on sustainability; 4 – All Learning materials and handbook in English was translated into 5 national languages for successful learning and dissemination. Our general objectives were:1- Implementing sustainable behaviour in home economics profession and guest-orientated businesses; 2- Improving access to education for sustainable behaviour in profession and daily life for pupils, trainees and unskilled employees through teachers and multipliers; 3- Developing innovative ICT-based content, pedagogies and practices for lifelong learning to react on changing challenges in the field of profession mentioned above. To reach these objectives the project partners worked on the following main outputs: 1. Collection of practical needs, tools, materials and recommendations to arrange professional learning processes to improve education for sustainability in the fields of Home economics 2. Prototype transnational curriculum for a blended-learning course (8 ECVET/ECTS) which includes 4 Modules (2 LTTs). The full course including all materials is provided in Moodle. 4. Handbook with pedagogical concepts, background informations of the course and best-practice examples for lesson concepts to motivate pupils for learning sustainability and implement sustainable measures in local households, guest-orientated businesses and communities. This project made a great contribution to the education of vocational educators and trainers, that they holding competencies to conduct the processes in their professional fields in a sustainable manner and use digital learning tools. In addition they were able to share their knowledge with colleagues from different countries and built relationships and communities in social media for future exchange of knowledge.