Conventional environmental education is failing us, and it is time to stop worrying and start punk-ing. SABER "Soilpunk Arena: Becoming Earthstrong Rebels" is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange that gathers 20 young rebels at Dupa Gard, an off-grid permaculture site in the Apuseni Mountains, one of Europe's last wild sanctuaries in the Western Carpathians of Transylvania, to transform climate anxiety into active engagement.
About the Project
This Erasmus+ Youth Exchange wants to address the shortcomings of conventional environmental education by turning climate anxiety into active engagement. The focus is soil, what it is and how to use zero-budget "punk" hacks (mulching, seed bombs, composting and collaboration) to mitigate the climate apocalypse and its effects on us and our environment. By the end, you will leave with a "Soilpunk toolkit" to design active, sustainable futures for yourself and in your own local community.
Soilpunk is a future vision centered on regenerative agriculture, connection to the earth, and ecological renewal. It values organic cycles, soil care, and symbiotic technologies that bring people and nature together.
What You Will Experience
🕵️ Hands-on "Missions" in the dirt, including the Soil Detective Game
📓 Creative Zine-making and Dragon Dreaming workshops
🏕️ Off-grid living and local Transylvanian traditions
🎉 A community event designed and run by you
🧰 Building your own Soilpunk toolkit for active, sustainable futures back home
Eligible Countries
This exchange is open to participants from:
🇷🇴 Romania
🇷🇸 Serbia
🇬🇷 Greece
🇪🇸 Spain
Who Are We Looking For?
20 rebels aged 18 to 30, plus 4 group leaders. The project brings together young people from countries with different environmental realities to learn, live and create together.
Partner countries and organisations:
🇷🇴 Romania: JJ Films & Culture (Hosts)
🇷🇸 Serbia: Zeleno Doba
🇬🇷 Greece: COB
🇪🇸 Spain: Associació L'Alzina
Facilitators: Andreas Pohl from the Dupa Gard Project and Mihail Kossev, experienced Permaculture Facilitator and Soil Expert.
Dates and Venue
📅 When: 15 to 25 September 2026 (main activity 16 to 24 September, with 15 September as arrival day and 25 September as departure day)
📍 Where: Salciua and Posaga de Jos, Transylvania, Romania
🏔️ Headquarters: Dupa Gard, an off-grid permaculture site in the Apuseni Mountains
🛏️ Accommodation: Pensiunea Agroturistica Popas Salciua in the neighbouring village (5 km away), living in shared rooms with delicious vegetarian, local food
🌳 Also open now: Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in 🇷🇴 Romania 🌳 Reforestation and Digital Tools for Environmental Action → https://youthworkshub.org/21362
What Is Covered
Cost: €0. Travel reimbursement plus full board provided. Travel, accommodation and meals are funded and reimbursed according to Erasmus+ guidelines. Information on travel reimbursement can be found through the Erasmus+ Distance Calculator.
How to Apply
Deadline for applications: as soon as possible. Apply through the application form and check the hosting project Dupa Gard for more details.
📝 Application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeb3xiyBqrcl5qEv5vmBWFRw6w5rcFaaF11ZuAzlYHiVI7Taw/viewform
🔗 Apply at: linktr.ee/dupagard
🌻 You might also like: Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in 🇫🇷 France 🌱 Agroecology, Permaculture and Sustainable Living at an Educational Garden → https://youthworkshub.org/21336
Soil is your weapon. Turn your climate anxiety into something that grows.
