Online Training Course | Spreading Pollen: Youth Advocacy for the Protection of Pollinators

An online training course that will help you turn your motivation to fight the environmental crisis into action!

WHY SHOULD THE TOPIC OF POLLINATORS CONCERN YOUTH ADVOCATES?

It all boils down to two reasons!

Pollinators support nature itself but they are in great danger!

• We depend on pollinators for our food supply: Around 75% percent of the main crops grown globally rely to at least some extent on pollinators for growth, quality, and/or seed production including coffee and cocoa!
• Pollinators are essential for biodiversity: Around 50% of flowering plants are completely dependent on animal pollination for their reproduction. By supporting the existence of plants, pollinators are responsible for maintaining entire ecosystems and all the services they provide from providing habitat for wildlife to climate change mitigation. 
• Pollinators provide medicinal products such as manuka honey and propolis
• Flying insect populations including many pollinators have declined by approximately 75% in the last 30 years

Pollinators conservation is a strategic advocacy point that allows us to tackle a number of issues. Let us explain!

• The issues that endanger pollinators are the same issues that create multiple other environmental problems
• For example, pesticide use is a problem for pollinators. If we choose to advocate for reduced pesticide use we are not only touching upon the issue of pollinators we are also benefiting other organisms, promoting soil health, tackling nitrogen pollution, and many many more.
• Another example includes light pollution. Light pollution affects the physiological functions and biological rhythms of many species, including pollinators disrupting entire ecosystems. Therefore, if we choose to advocate for decreased light pollution we are not only benefiting pollinators but entire ecosystems.
• So, by advocating for the conservation of pollinators you will actually be talking about multiple issues through a specific angle. Pretty smart right?

ABOUT THE TRAINING COURSE

This online training course will provide you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to design and coordinate an advocacy campaign for the protection of pollinators. It will help you identify your key demands, who to reach out to, and how to successfully communicate your message to influence positive change. It will turn your motivation into action and will empower you to become a pollinator champion. The entire training is based on experiential learning and non-formal education and will include a wide array of activities in the virtual space. It is grounded in generating actionable ideas fit for real-life situations. At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate of participation.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

 Through the course you will:

• Gain an understanding of pollinators ecology, their importance in ecosystem functioning, and the main drivers of decline
• Get a clear perspective on the policy framework governing pollinators conservation status on the European and national level
• Be able to find relevant policies and legislation in your country/region and identify key authorities and stakeholders in this matter
• Understand the importance of youth advocacy in what concerns pollinators conservation
• Interact with guest speakers ranging from youth activists to representatives of NGOs with experience in advocacy to entomologists and more. Guest speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on our social media!
• Become aware of different advocacy tools 
• Select which advocacy tools are more powerful given the information available in your setting
• Define strategic goals for an advocacy campaign 
• Exchange knowledge and skills with interested and motivated young people from across Europe
• Be provided with a supportive space to develop actions tailored to your setting and feel empowered to implement them
• Connect with motivated young individuals interested in the topic of pollinators
• Explore your connection with pollinators and nature itself

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

• Members of youth organisations/ groups/ informal networks (If you are not a member of any of the above do not rule yourself out. Apply anyway providing more information in the form)
• Individuals with some experience in environmental youth advocacy. There is no need to be an expert in that just to have some experience that the training can build on. 
• Individuals who are looking to expand their knowledge on pollinators’ importance. There is no need to have much knowledge or experience with the topic of pollinators as we will provide that during the course.

REQUIREMENTS

• Must be between 18-30 years old
• Must be an EU member state resident OR Be part of an organisation that is active within EU member states
• Advanced level or Fluency in English 
• Previous experience with political advocacy in environmental issues will be appreciated
• A strong interest in the conservation of pollinators
• Ability to commit to the entire duration of the course. Participants that do not commit to all the sessions will not receive a certificate of attendance in the training course
• Be motivated to apply the takeaways of the training 
• Be willing to support the group in their learning journey

WHEN?

24th-26th of September 2021

• Friday 24/09 at 16:00-17:30 CEST and 18.00-20.00 CEST
• Saturday 25/09 at 10:00-12:00 CEST followed by a lunch break and an additional session at 13:00-15:00 CEST
• Sunday 26/09 10:00-12:00 CEST followed by a lunch break and an additional session at 13:00-15:00 CEST

A final two-hour follow-up session will take place two weeks after the end of the course. Specific date to be confirmed. Specific times of the sessions are subject to minor changes. If that happens you will be notified plenty of time in advance!

HOW TO APPLY

• CLICK HERE TO APPLY before the 21st of September 2021 – Midnight CEST. Applications submitted past the deadline will not be considered.
• The application will be reviewed on a rolling basis up until the final deadline so if you apply earlier you are more likely to have a spot on the training course.

For any further questions or clarifications please contact Venetia Galanaki (Project Lead) at venetia.galanaki@yeenet.eu

JOIN THE HIVE! 

GOOD TO KNOW

• The course is free for participants as it is funded by the European Commission 
• Attendance to all sessions is required
• You will only receive a certificate if you participate in all 6 sessions of the training course
• This course is mainly interactive and active participation would be expected
• Recordings for most sessions will not be available as sessions are mostly based on interactions
• The entire training course will take place over zoom