The second international meeting of the COGREENEU project partners, Digital Green Deal, European History and Youth, was held in Kaunas, Lithuania, from October 23 to 26, 2023. Hosted by Vytautas Magnus University, this meeting formed part of WP2 and centered on exploring the EU’s historical commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. The event highlighted the European Green Deal as a central framework to combat climate change and engaged participants in discussions on civic participation, bioeconomy, and green initiatives at local and European levels.
The event began with a welcome by representatives of Vytautas Magnus University, who introduced the program and emphasized the importance of the EU Green Deal in addressing societal challenges and engaging youth in climate initiatives. Throughout the meeting, a diverse group of 78 participants, including 44 women and 34 men, took part. These participants represented a range of sectors, from academia and NGOs to local government and youth organizations.
The central activity of the meeting was a multicultural workshop titled The Role of Minorities in the Sustainability of Their Cities. This workshop was complemented by an intercultural dialogue between representatives of minority groups and local communities. Discussions revolved around successful examples of civic participation in sustainable development, with contributions from experts such as Kristina Šiožinienė, who shared a local success story involving a community-driven retail project, and Janina Augustinavičienė, who presented results from the international project Renewable Energy – Uniting Energy. These case studies emphasized the importance of grassroots involvement in achieving sustainability goals.
A gamification session further enriched the meeting, where participants engaged in interactive challenges based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. This activity fostered practical problem-solving skills by encouraging participants to apply sustainability principles to real-life scenarios. Additionally, the event included a working session focused on finalizing the project’s dissemination strategy, ensuring alignment with its objectives.
Participants also visited the innovative facilities of Vytautas Magnus University’s Agriculture Academy, where they explored research spaces like “InnoSpace” and participated in interactive sessions on neuromarketing and smart villages. Excursions to Raudondvaris Manor, the Lapės Community Center, and Kaunas City offered insights into Lithuania’s cultural and historical heritage, further enriching the participants’ understanding of sustainability in practice.
The meeting successfully raised awareness about the civic participation of minorities, climate change, and sustainable development. It also enhanced participants’ digital skills, highlighted the importance of youth engagement in sustainability efforts, and concluded with a unified dissemination strategy for the project.