Event report: Reading session: article What Is the Environmental Crisis Telling Us?

Date: 26 November 2025

Context: Project Youth for Decent Work, the Common Good and the Environment (KA145)

Location: Pekarna Magdalenske mreže, Maribor

1. Activity description

Within the Erasmus+ project, we organized a reading session in which participants received in advance the article by Izidor Ostan Ožbolt, What Is the Environmental Crisis Telling Us?. Participants read the text at home, and the meeting in Maribor was dedicated to collective discussion and reflection on the key themes of the article.

The session took place in a circle; each participant first shared what new insights they gained and which parts of the text were unclear or required further explanation. Based on these points, a moderated discussion followed on environmental issues, capitalism as a structural cause of the ecological crisis, planetary boundaries, and possibilities for systemic change. The session aimed to encourage young people to reflect on the links between environmental issues, economic systems, and social justice.

2. Purpose of the activity

The objectives of the reading session were:

1. To deepen understanding of the concept of the environmental crisis and planetary boundaries.
2. To present the key structural causes of ecological breakdown highlighted by the author.
3. To encourage critical reflection on the role of capitalism, growth, and productivity.
4. To open discussion on possibilities for collective, political, and societal action.
5. To strengthen skills in reading and understanding social science texts and in argumentation.

3. Session structure and youth involvement

The session was conducted in three parts:

1) Opening circle:

Participants shared what they understood from the article, what surprised them, and which parts were more difficult to comprehend (e.g., Jevons Paradox, the general law of environmental degradation, the concept of abstract time and space).

2) Group discussion:

In the guided discussion, we explored key topics:

1. The meaning and importance of planetary boundaries.
2. How the imperative of growth and profit logic affects environmental degradation.
3. The limitations of technological progress in solving the ecological crisis.
4. Fossil fuels and their role in a specific “space-time regime” of capitalism.
5. Why environmental action must be anti-capitalist and justice-oriented.

3) Personal reflection by participants:

Participants reflected on their relationship with the environment, observed consumption and growth practices in their surroundings, connections between environmental challenges and social inequalities, and their own opportunities for engagement (schools, communities, youth organizations). The discussion was lively, with participants encouraging critical thinking and connecting the article to everyday life.

4. Achieved results

1. High level of active participation throughout the discussion.
2. Better understanding of the structure of environmental problems, not just their symptoms.
3. Deepened understanding of concepts such as planetary boundaries, environmental crisis, productivity, fossil capital, Jevons Paradox.
4. Strengthened ability to critically interpret longer social science texts.
5. Expressed interest in further sessions on environmental justice and political ecology.
6. The session provided space to reflect on alternatives to the current development model.

5. Learning outcomes and contribution to project goals

The reading session contributed significantly to the project goals, as it:

1. Strengthened critical thinking and analytical skills.
2. Increased understanding of the connections between environment, work, economy, and society.
3. Encouraged interest in socially responsible action.
4. Developed argumentation and reflection skills.
5. Reinforced mutual solidarity and a sense of community in addressing challenges.
6. Enabled young people to actively engage in discussions on topics that will significantly shape their daily lives in the future.

Event Report: Environmental Workshop – Decent Work and the Environment

Date: 12 November 2025

Context: Erasmus+ project Youth for Decent Work, the Common Good and the Environment (KA145)

Location: Pekarna Magdalenske mreže, Maribor

1. Description of the Activity

As part of the project, we carried out an educational workshop on Decent Work and the Environment, following the materials and content developed within the project team. The aim of the workshop was to strengthen the participants’ understanding of climate (in)justice, its origins and consequences, as well as the links between environmental challenges, workers’ rights and social justice.

In the introductory part, participants were introduced to the basic concepts of the climate crisis, planetary boundaries and current climate impacts in Slovenia. This was followed by an overview of key systemic causes, focusing particularly on the role of the capitalist economic system, unlimited growth and pressures on natural resources.

The second part of the workshop addressed global and social inequalities—both between countries and within populations. Special emphasis was placed on the fact that the consequences of climate breakdown are not distributed evenly and that the most vulnerable communities are often the most affected.

The closing part was dedicated to climate justice, systemic change and the role of active citizenship. The workshop was highly interactive—participants engaged in group discussions and completed a practical exercise identifying local environmental and social issues.

2. Purpose of the Activity

The goals of the workshop were to:

1. present to young people the connections between climate change, the economic system and social justice,
2. explain why the climate crisis is not only an environmental issue but a deeply systemic one,
3. strengthen the understanding of decent living conditions within ecological limits,
4. encourage reflection on the role of young people in social and environmental change,
5. open space for considering possibilities for active involvement in local environmental and social initiatives.

3. Process and Youth Participation

The workshop was structured into several thematic sections:

a) Introduction – Planetary Boundaries and Environmental Crises

Participants were introduced to the concept of planetary boundaries, key exceeded limits (climate change, biodiversity loss) and the impacts of ecological breakdown in Slovenia, including heatwaves, ecosystem degradation and impacts on agriculture.

b) Systemic Causes – The Economy of Profit and Endless Growth

Participants learned about the logic of competitive market systems, pressures on environmental standards and the reasons why companies often avoid the costs of environmental protection. A key insight was that climate change results from economic structures rather than purely natural processes.

c) Inequalities – Who Is Responsible and Who Is Most Affected?

The discussion addressed global emission disparities, the disproportionate share of emissions produced by the wealthiest, and differences in impacts on populations of wealthy countries versus those in the Global South. Young participants connected these concepts to examples from their own communities.

d) Climate Justice and Social Alternatives

The group focused on questions of a just societal transition, the development of public and community services, and the role of activism in systemic change. Attention was given to the idea of a society based on meeting human and planetary needs instead of profit-driven logic.

e) Group Work – Local Issues and Opportunities for Action

In the final segment, participants worked in small groups to identify the most pressing environmental and social issues in Maribor and considered possible forms of local organising and action. Feedback showed a high level of engagement and interest.

4. Results Achieved

The workshop contributed to:

1. a high level of participation and interest among young people,
2. improved understanding of systemic environmental and social problems,
3. development of knowledge related to climate justice and interconnected concepts,
4. linking environmental issues with decent work, inequality and broader social structures,
5. active identification of local problems and proposals for action,
6. increased interest in engaging in initiatives such as climate strikes, youth organisations and community projects.

5. Learning Outcomes and Contribution to Project Goals

The workshop significantly contributed to the goals of the project by:

1. strengthening critical thinking and systemic understanding of social processes,
2. helping young people grasp the connections between decent work, ecological limits and social inequalities,
3. improving their ability to analyse social and environmental structures,
4. encouraging reflection on alternatives to the current economic model,
5. increasing awareness of the role of young people in societal change,
6. promoting the values of solidarity, justice and community care.

Event Report: Mapping Workshop – Faculty of Health Sciences Maribor

Date: 23 October 2025

Context: Erasmus+ project Youth for Decent Work, the Common Good and the Environment (KA145)

Location: Faculty of Health Sciences, Maribor

1. Activity Description

At the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Maribor, we organised a workshop aimed at mapping the challenges faced by students during their studies and compulsory practical training. The workshop was delivered in cooperation with Polona T. Aškerc, Secretary General of the Trade Union of Health and Social Care of Slovenia.

We prepared a short questionnaire to gather students’ views on the difficulties they encounter within the educational process and the wider health care system, as well as their ideas for possible solutions. In addition, we set up an information stand to raise awareness about the importance of solidarity, collective action and organising when addressing systemic issues.

2. Purpose of the Activity

The main aim of the workshop was to identify key challenges experienced by students of health sciences and to encourage reflection on how young people, both individually and as an organised community, can contribute to solving these issues. Particular emphasis was placed on understanding the conditions of compulsory practical training, recognising the challenges young people expect upon entering the labour market, and raising awareness of the possibilities for organised action and dialogue with decision-makers.

3. Process and Youth Engagement

Through discussions and the questionnaire, we encouraged students to think about how they can collectively formulate improvement proposals and present them to the faculty leadership and other relevant stakeholders. Participants recognised that many challenges cannot be addressed individually, but require a coordinated, structured and community-oriented approach.

We also presented informational union materials on organising, participation and workers’ rights, and offered students the opportunity to engage in further project-related activities focused on advocacy and collective action.

4. Outcomes

The workshop reached approximately 50 students who either participated in the discussion or completed the questionnaire. Several students expressed interest in continued involvement and shared their contact information. The activity empowered young people to recognise the importance of collective action, cooperation between students and health care workers, and the broader collaboration between different professional groups and communities, including workers, patients and their families.

The workshop further demonstrated that young people are not passive or disengaged; instead, they showed strong motivation and a genuine desire to improve the conditions of their education and future work.

5. Learning Effects and Contribution to Project Goals

The workshop significantly contributed to the objectives of the project by encouraging active participation, strengthening young people’s sense of responsibility and solidarity, and increasing their awareness of the influence of local and European policies on their study and working conditions. It also boosted their motivation to engage in decision-making processes and advocacy efforts, laying a solid foundation for further activities within the project.

Event Report: Film Evening – Full Time

Date: 29 September 2025

Context: Erasmus+ project Youth for Decent Work, the Common Good and the Environment (KA145)

Location: Pekarna Magdalenske mreže, Maribor

1. Activity Description

As part of the project, we hosted our first film evening featuring the French film Full Time (À plein temps, 2021, directed by Éric Gravel). The film offers a realistic portrayal of a single mother navigating the pressures of work, family responsibilities, and survival within the modern labour market.

After the screening, we held a moderated discussion lasting around 60 minutes. The event attracted mostly high school students and a few university students. Together they created a space for reflection on working conditions, invisible labour, the role of the individual within capitalism, and possibilities for solidarity and collective action.

2. Purpose of the Activity

The film evening was designed with the following aims:

1. to encourage critical understanding of contemporary working conditions and workers’ experiences,
2. to introduce young people to the social and economic structures that shape everyday life,
3. to open a discussion on solidarity, strikes, and organised action,
4. to use film as a tool for reflecting on personal and societal challenges.

3. Process and Youth Engagement

The guided discussion that followed the screening encouraged participants to engage in deeper reflection. The young attendees discussed:

1. the portrayal of invisible labour and emotional burdens,
2. the realism of the situations depicted within the European context,
3. their parents’ experiences with work, workload, and balancing family life,
4. the role of strikes as a legitimate tool of workers’ struggle,
5. the challenges of organising under conditions of overload and precarity.

Participants also shared personal stories and examples from their surroundings, enriching the conversation and linking it to their own understanding of social processes.

4. Outcomes

1. participation of 18 young people, primarily high school students,
2. active engagement in the discussion and expression of personal viewpoints,
3. deeper understanding of the importance of invisible labour and precarious working conditions,
4. strengthened sense of solidarity and awareness of the role workers play in society,
5. dismantling the stereotype that young people are uninterested in labour issues and social justice — they demonstrated strong interest and personal engagement.

5. Learning Effects and Contribution to Project Goals

The event significantly contributed to the project’s core objectives by:

1. strengthening critical thinking, analytical skills, and reflection,
2. helping young people better understand the link between personal experiences and broader social processes,
3. fostering empathy for workers in essential professions,
4. increasing awareness of the importance of collective action, trade unions, and strikes,
5. laying the groundwork for further youth engagement with issues of decent work and social justice.