Digital choices, real impact

In December, the Erasmus+ training project Digital tools, be aware! took place in Guadeloupe. Youth workers and young people from Europe and the Caribbean came together to reflect on our everyday digital habits and their impact on both people and the environment.

The trainings and workshops were delivered by Ride In 971 and Clean My Island. Drawing on their hands-on experience in youth work, education and environmental awareness, they made visible what often remains unseen in our daily use of technology. The focus was not only on energy consumption and digital infrastructures, but also on the very material side of technology: resources, production processes and waste.

E-waste formed a central theme throughout the project. Smartphones, laptops and other digital devices are often replaced quickly and forgotten just as fast, while e-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams worldwide. Participants explored the full life cycle of digital devices and reflected on the environmental and social consequences of electronic waste, particularly for communities that bear the heaviest burden of disposal and recycling.

The international composition of the group gave these conversations depth and perspective. Participants from the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, North Macedonia, Romania, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Sint Maarten and Guadeloupe shared experiences from their own contexts. This exchange highlighted that e-waste is not an abstract issue, but a shared challenge that manifests differently across regions and communities.

Digital tools, be aware! was more than a training course. It was a collective learning experience rooted in dialogue, awareness and responsibility. Participants returned home with new insights, practical tools and the motivation to continue addressing e-waste and responsible digital practices within their own organisations and communities.

Digital tools, be aware! - 2025-1-FR02-KA151-YOU-000302795