Heritage, Sustainability, and Intergenerational Connection in the Islanders Project
15th October 2024
On October 14th, 2024, the Islanders project hosted a lively online workshop where young people and partners gathered to continue the discussions from the Brussels event. The online workshop showcased the rich cultural heritage of small islands in Europe, emphasized the importance of sustainability, and how young people can bridge the gap with the older generation in order to preserve island tradition and knowledge.
Looking back at the days they spent in Brussels, participants reported how they enjoyed the activities that were arranged and how much they valued the possibility of meeting other young islanders from all over Europe. They spoke of a lot of new learnings, especially on cultural heritage and sustainability. The sense of community was strong, and many expressed how valuable it was to connect in person and share experiences. Other students commented that they actually would like to visit Sweden in the years to come to learn about all its best practices in sustainability.
The conversation deepened when participants were asked to imagine what would have been happening if a key part of their island, for instance, the sea, disappeared. Youngsters from Greece told how their islands would not exist without the sea, as it is part of their culture and contributes to their economic development. This shed light on the deep and intertwined relationship existing between nature and island life, underlining the preservation of natural resources as means for the protection of their cultural identity along with economic sustainability.
The workshop also served as a great setup for the future sessions, when participants will have the chance to be directly introduced to the invited guests, including activists and experts in sustainability and cultural preservation, such as Antonio Caso, a Sustainability Trainer and Project Manager & Aran Cosentino, Photographer and Activist.
As the Islanders project unfolds, one thing becomes certain: young people are irrevocably attached not only to the care and protection of their island environments but also to keeping the vividness of their cultural heritage alive. They are creating a future that pays homage to both their past and their present.
