Youth, Circular Economy and the Practice of Hope
On January 28th, 2026, we had the pleasure of participating in an online session within the YOU-CYCLE project, together with our partners at YouthProAktiv, Espacio Geranios, Eko Greece, IRCEM, and EIG. Beyond the exchange of ideas, the event offered a panel discussion that brought real depth to a key question we care deeply about: How do youth-led circular economy initiatives move from ideas to action?
At a time when uncertainty can easily slip into fatigue, the session was a powerful reminder that hope is not something we wait for—it is something we build. And we build it through community, intention, and the everyday practice of working together.
Across the reflections of the panel speakers Erika Meyer, Noemi Kristine Licini, and Faima Ramirez Hirschauer, three ideas emerged again and again, as if spoken in one collective voice:
1. Meaningful youth participation requires structure, support, and small steps.
Young people shine when they can break ambitious ideas into doable actions, and when mentoring and coaching aren’t treated as optional, but as part of the process. This is exactly the kind of supportive ecosystem we strive to cultivate at Espacio Geranios.
2. Inspiration and connection need real spaces—and real investment.
Gathering doesn’t happen by accident. Young people need spaces to meet, collaborate, and experiment. Spaces where diversity is understood as a condition for accessibility, and where continuity is possible because we are collectively willing to sustain it. This is at the heart of our work in Madrid and our European partnerships.
3. There is a crisis of hope—and our spaces must be both safe and brave.
Today’s young people face emotional and collective uncertainty. Psychological safety matters deeply, but we also need brave spaces where young people can belong, lead, question, innovate, and grow into multipliers in their communities. This is the kind of environment we aim to nurture every day.
We left the session feeling genuinely grateful.
Not because the challenges are smaller—if anything, they remain significant—but because conversations like this reconnect us with what matters and why we do this work. They remind us that hope is a practice, especially in uncertain times.
A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who joined us.
Your contributions continue to strengthen the community of practice we are building across Europe.
More about the YOU-CYCLE project
Website: https://www.you-cycle.com/
LinkedIn group: https://lnkd.in/ezv_HFZj
Link to the recording of the session
Project funded by: Erasmus + Program, through the Spanish National Agency, Instituto de la Juventud de España (INJUVE).
Organized by: EIG – European Integration Group (Türkiye), EKO – Entrepreneurship and Social Economy Group (Greece), IRCEM – Research Institute for Circular Economy and Environment “Ernest Lupan” (Romania), YouthProaktiv (Belgium) and Espacio Geranios (Spain).