The problem
The world has a big waste problem and managing it sustainably is getting harder.
Upcycling—turning old things into something new and useful—can help, but not enough people, especially young ones, are doing it.
Goals
ScaleUPcycling aimed to address waste pollution by:
- Teaching young people and youth workers how to save resources, reduce waste, and upcycle.
- Building a collaborative digital platform to share knowledge, connect people, and build skills.
- Helping participants create and run local upcycling projects.
- Encouraging sustainable practices with fun, creative, and interactive learning.
Approach
The Nicosia Development Agency noticed that young people lacked the skills, tools, and support to help with waste reduction and upcycling. They also wanted ways to work together to make a bigger impact. The project focused on these needs:
- Digital Platform
A multilingual online hub was created for young people to share ideas, access training materials and connect with others who care about upcycling. - Fun Learning
The project offered training modules, an e-learning plan, podcasts, and videos to teach young people and youth workers about sustainability in an engaging way. - Community Projects
Workshops, events, and partnerships with NGOs brought people together to learn and take action locally. - Creative Tools
Participants received cool tools like a digital flipbook and training resources to help them improve their upcycling skills.
Features
The platform was available in six languages, making it easy for people from different backgrounds to join. With podcasts, videos and hands-on activities, the training was designed to be exciting for young people. Working with local groups and NGOs helped the project reach more people and provide great resources.
Lessons learned
Interactive and engaging content, like motion videos, podcasts and practical training, are the best way to get young people interested and keep them involved.
Find out more: https://scaleupcycling.eu/
What you can do
Find inspiration in the upcycling trend on TikTok and join the movement.