Today, environmental pollution and ecological problems are increasing day by day. As a youth group, we implemented the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange project titled “Paint Your Future Green” with our Dream Time team in order to raise environmental awareness, protect the ecological balance and draw attention to endangered animals in Şanlıurfa on 22-28 September 2021. We realized our project with activities where we will have information about the environment and ecological balance and raise awareness through various activities using experiential learning methods. In accordance with the purpose of the project, the participants used their own glasses and water flasks to draw attention to the use of pets throughout the project. Ecological name badges produced by our Knitting for Hope team, which contribute to the preservation of the ecological balance and are under the umbrella of our association, were used. Our ecological name badges attracted great attention in the project. Various kinds of saplings were planted in Harran University Osmanbey Campus with our participants from Italy, Spain, Jordan, Germany and Turkey. Young people who did garbage collection activities in the historical caves around Balıklıgöl, one of the touristic places of Şanlıurfa, created a good awareness. Visiting the Nature Conservation National Parks Directorate in Birecik, Şanlıurfa, the participants listened to presentations from the authorities about the endangered bald ibis in the world and in Turkey. Within the scope of the project, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy visited our project and met with the participants. The minister, who saw the activities of the youth on the spot, thanked the youth for their environmental awareness. The participants, whose awareness of environmental protection has increased with our project, continue their efforts to spread this awareness and raise awareness.
