Contemporary society is facing growing challenges related to excessive consumption, waste generation and unsustainable lifestyles. Although the importance of environmental protection and sustainable development is increasingly recognised, young people often lack opportunities to gain practical knowledge, develop skills and actively participate in addressing environmental and social challenges in their own communities. It is particularly important to create opportunities for their involvement through primary, secondary and higher education institutions, where they demonstrate a strong interest in sustainability and civic engagement.
Swap Fairs are a practical and accessible way to promote sustainable lifestyles by encouraging the reuse of items, reducing unnecessary consumption and extending the lifespan of products. Through exchanging second-hand items, creative reuse and educational activities, participants directly learn the principles of responsible consumption and the 4R approach (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover), with a particular focus on reducing consumption and waste generation. Through the project “New Stories of Old Things – Young People for a More Sustainable Split”, Sunce continues to develop Swap Fairs as spaces for learning, connecting and actively contributing to a more sustainable local community.
Through the organisation of regular and themed Swap Fairs, educational and creative workshops, and activities in schools and universities, the project will enable young people to gain practical knowledge of sustainable practices, develop organisational, communication, digital, social and civic competences, and actively participate in local community life. Special emphasis will be placed on involving pupils and students in the organisation and implementation of Swap Fairs, as well as empowering young volunteers who will develop initiative, responsibility, teamwork skills and a sense of belonging to their community through hands-on experience. At the same time, information campaigns and public events will increase the visibility of project activities and raise young people’s awareness of opportunities to get involved.
The project will therefore contribute to the long-term strengthening of young people’s active participation, building connections between educational institutions and the local community, and promoting sustainable habits among the citizens of the City of Split. By involving young people in concrete activities, they will not remain merely beneficiaries of educational content but will become active drivers of positive change in their community.
Project objectives
The overall objective of the project is to empower young people to actively participate in their local community through organised information activities, participatory educational activities focused on sustainable lifestyles, skills development, volunteering and civic engagement.
Specific objectives
1. Improve young people’s awareness of sustainable practices, opportunities for participation and activities for young people through public events and information campaigns.
Through information campaigns on social media and the project website, as well as the organisation of public events, young people will learn about opportunities to participate in Swap Fairs and other activities promoting sustainable practices. Raising awareness of the importance of combating consumerism and the unnecessary accumulation of waste will contribute to strengthening young people’s environmental awareness and encouraging more sustainable habits within the local community.
2. Encourage the active participation of young people in the local community through volunteering, event organisation and the implementation of activities in educational institutions.
By involving young volunteers in the preparation and implementation of regular and themed Swap Fairs, the project will encourage their more active engagement in local community life. Through volunteering, young people will develop organisational, communication, digital and civic competences, gain practical knowledge and strengthen their sense of responsibility and belonging to the community. Special emphasis will be placed on involving pupils and students through short-term volunteering opportunities and activities in educational institutions.
3. Develop young people’s knowledge, skills and competences related to sustainable lifestyles, civic engagement and teamwork through educational and practical activities.
Through educational and practical activities related to the organisation and implementation of Swap Fairs, young people will gain knowledge about sustainable lifestyles, responsible consumption and waste prevention. By actively participating in the planning and implementation of activities, they will develop teamwork, communication and organisational skills, as well as competences necessary for civic engagement.
4. Identify young people’s interests, needs and level of awareness in order to develop new programmes and activities for young people in the City of Split.
By continuously collecting feedback from young people through questionnaires, discussions and participation in Swap Fair activities, the project will identify their interests, needs and level of awareness of available programmes and opportunities to participate in community life. The insights gained will serve as a basis for developing new programmes and activities tailored to young people in the City of Split, while encouraging their active involvement in identifying and addressing local social and environmental challenges.
Project activities
- Monthly Swap Fair at Klub Zona
- Themed Swap Fairs:
- Swap Fair for outdoor activity equipment
- Swap Fair for art and creative supplies
- Swap Fair for toys and school supplies (Dobri Primary School)
- Swap Fair for clothing and footwear (Sustainability Festival)
- Swap Fairs in educational institutions – First Grammar School Split, Third Grammar School Split and the Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Split (KTF)
- Educational and creative workshops on waste reduction for pupils
- Long-term and short-term volunteering programmes for young people
- Communication activities, project promotion and visibility
Project lead organisation: Sunce – Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development
Project partners: Info zona, First Grammar School Split, Third Grammar School Split and the Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Split
Project duration: 12 months (1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026)
Project budget: EUR 3,000.00 (City of Split)
Project Manager at Sunce: Margita Radman, Head of the Education and Information Department
([email protected])
Contact person at Sunce: Jelena Grozdanić, Associate at the Education and Information Department
([email protected])
