PLASTICWISE: Youth Workers Shaping a Plastic-Free Future is an Erasmus+ Training Course (KA153 mobility of youth workers) in Pervolia, Larnaca, Cyprus, from 24 February (arrival) to 4 March 2027 (departure). It is open to youth workers aged 18+ from Italy and Serbia. Accommodation, meals and coffee breaks are 100% covered by Erasmus+ and travel costs are reimbursed up to €309. Apply by 14 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we read the call and the full infopack, and this guide brings every detail together.
What Is PLASTICWISE About?
PLASTICWISE is a training course for youth workers who want to tackle plastic pollution with young people. Through workshops, simulations, exchange of good practice and digital content creation, participants gain practical methods to turn environmental awareness into action in their communities. The course sits under two topics: Environment & Climate and Youth Work & Learning. If this format is new to you, our guide explains what an Erasmus+ Training Course is.
Why the Training Course Was Organised
The motivation comes from the partner organisations' shared experience of working with young people and youth workers on environmental awareness, sustainability, active citizenship and community participation. Across the partner countries, plastic pollution remains a visible and persistent environmental challenge, while youth workers often lack practical, ready-to-use methods for addressing it through non-formal education.
Plastic Pollution Across Different European Contexts
The partner organisations work in different national contexts, which lets the project look at plastic pollution from complementary perspectives:
🏖️ Cyprus, Italy and France: particular challenges connected with coastal and marine plastic pollution
🛒 Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands: despite well-developed waste-management systems, they still deal with high levels of plastic consumption, including single-use plastics
🗑️ Serbia, Romania, Slovakia and other Central and Eastern European contexts: challenges related to waste prevention, recycling and environmental awareness
These differences create an important basis for exchanging experiences and identifying approaches that can be adapted to different local realities.
From Awareness to Meaningful Action
The organisations are especially motivated by the gap between young people's growing awareness of environmental issues and their opportunities to take meaningful action. In daily youth work, partners see that young people need more chances to understand the causes and consequences of plastic pollution, reflect critically on consumption habits, cooperate with others and develop practical solutions for their communities.
The Needs Behind the Project
1️⃣ Stronger environmental competences among youth workers: knowledge of plastic pollution, its environmental and social impacts, and the link between plastic consumption, waste prevention and sustainability
2️⃣ Practical non-formal education methods: tested methodologies using experiential learning, group work, simulations, discussions, outdoor activities and creative workshops
3️⃣ Moving young people from awareness to action: meaningful opportunities to develop solutions, change everyday behaviours and join local environmental initiatives
4️⃣ Stronger critical thinking about consumption: examining purchasing habits, single-use plastics, advertising and consumer choices, and how individual decisions connect to wider environmental challenges
5️⃣ Inclusive environmental education: approaches that make environmental learning accessible to young people with different backgrounds, abilities and levels of knowledge, so that fewer-opportunity young people can also take part actively
6️⃣ Cooperation and transfer of good practices: exchanging experiences from different European contexts, comparing local approaches to plastic pollution, and developing methods that can be transferred into regular youth work across countries
These needs reflect the wider role of youth workers in turning learning into community change.
What You Will Do During the Course
🔥 Ice breakers and energizers
🇪🇺 Presentation of Erasmus+
🎓 Youthpass certificate
🗣️ Debates
🎭 Role play
📢 Public awareness campaign
🗺️ Presentation of national practices
🎙️ Panel expert discussion
🎬 Video creation (Instagram Reels) and dissemination materials for promotion
🔁 Follow-up and dissemination activities
💭 Reflection
🌙 Intercultural night
All of this is built on non-formal education, and your learning is recognised through Youthpass.
Who Can Apply?
👥 Team size: each national team is 4 youth workers, with a mandatory gender balance (2+2, 50-50%)
🎂 Age: all 4 participants must be aged 18+ (mandatory)
🇮🇹 Italy: applications open through the Italian form
🇷🇸 Serbia: 4 places, participants aged 25+, through a separate form
For more on this type of project, read our guide to mobility of youth workers.
Selection Criteria
🔀 A mix of profiles: experienced participants, but also people who are new or newish to the topic and interested in social inclusion, inclusivity and youth leadership
🤲 Social sensibilities: socially active trainers, youth workers and employees of organisations with a role in local communities and an interest in the project topic
🏘️ Local activity: participants who are particularly active at local level, running youth empowerment initiatives
✅ Full commitment: ready to take part in the whole project: preparation, participation in the TC and follow-up activities
🧭 Openness: ready to share personal intercultural stereotypes and experiences and analyse them from different perspectives
🇪🇺 Erasmus+ interest: experienced or interested in working with the Erasmus+ programme
Group Size
The training course brings together 8 participants in total: 4 per country from Italy and Serbia.
Host and Partner Organisations
🐝 Host: Bee the Future CY is a youth-focused organisation based in Cyprus that supports young people through non-formal education, youth participation, inclusion, digital learning and environmental awareness. It offers young people and youth workers opportunities to develop practical competences through workshops, training courses, mobility activities and community-based initiatives, and focuses on inclusive learning environments where young people develop critical thinking, creativity, communication skills and active citizenship. The organisation has experience in Erasmus+ projects and international cooperation and uses participatory and experiential learning methods. In PLASTICWISE, it contributes its experience in youth work, non-formal education and environmental awareness, supporting practical activities that help youth workers address plastic pollution and promote sustainable behaviours.
🤝 Partner: Associazione Usamborgia
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🌍 All opportunities in Cyprus →
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Accommodation at the Journalists' Village of Pervolia
🏡 Venue: the Journalists' Village of Pervolia, Larnaca Municipality, Pervolia, Larnaca 7560, Cyprus, a residential neighbourhood and housing estate in Pervolia (also spelled Perivolia), a coastal village in the Larnaca District on the southern coast of Cyprus
📏 Distance: roughly 16 km southwest of Larnaca town and about a 10 to 15-minute drive from Larnaca International Airport
🛏️ Studios: participants stay in studios with 2 bedrooms, 2 toilets, a balcony and a terrace area
🏝️ Beach: just 2-5 minutes from the beach
🌳 Facilities: nearby outdoor spaces for walking, sports and recreation, a park area and a dedicated activity room, supporting both the programme and free time
Meals and Coffee Breaks
The accommodation package includes full daily catering: breakfast, lunch, dinner and two coffee breaks, so participants have meals and refreshments throughout the activities.
The Host Area: Pervolia and Larnaca
Pervolia is a coastal village near Larnaca on the southern coast of Cyprus, known for its beaches, traditional atmosphere and peaceful surroundings. It combines the authentic character of Cypriot life with easy access to the Mediterranean Sea. Participants can enjoy walks along the coastline, outdoor sports, cultural exploration and local life, while the nearby city of Larnaca offers more chances to discover Cypriot culture, history, local cuisine and landmarks. A short video about the area is listed in the Links section.
Getting to Pervolia
✈️ Larnaca International Airport (LCA): the recommended option, as it is the closest airport to the accommodation
🛫 Paphos International Airport (PFO): an alternative, but on the western side of the island, farther from Pervolia
🔎 Tip: compare available flights and choose the airport with the most convenient connection
Bus Connections from Larnaca Airport
🚌 Bus 429 (Larnaca Station - Airport - Faros Beach): best if you are heading to the tourist area, coastal plain or the Journalists' Village
🚍 Bus 430 (Larnaca Station - Airport - Kiti - Pervolia): best for the main inland village centre of Pervolia
⏱️ Journey time: about 20 minutes; both are operated by Cyprus Public Transport
🎫 Tickets: €2.70 for a daytime single cash fare (or €1.50 with a local scaled student/discount card), bought from the driver on boarding
🚫 Taxi transportation is not allowed
What Is Covered?
Accommodation, food and coffee breaks are 100% covered by the Erasmus+ Programme. Travel costs are budgeted according to Erasmus+ conditions, as defined in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide for 2026. See our guide on what costs Erasmus+ covers for the full picture.
Travel Budget by Country
🇮🇹 Italy: 309 EUR
🇷🇸 Serbia: 309 EUR
The amounts follow the Erasmus+ distance calculator (link in the Links section). Our guide on how Erasmus+ travel reimbursement works explains the distance bands behind these figures.
Very Important Travel Rules
📆 Extra days: a maximum of 2 extra travel days before or after the project; tickets beyond this limit cannot be reimbursed, and the costs of extra days are covered by yourself
🩺 Insurance: travel and health insurance is compulsory and is not covered by the project
🎟️ Ticket deadline: all partner organisations must select participants and buy tickets before 15 November 2026; please respect this time frame because of the travel budget
Reimbursement Procedure
🧾 Documents: each participant must attach the boarding passes and invoices from the trip; reimbursement details are explained during the TC
📸 Promotion material: after the project, each national group and participant creates pictures and a short video and promotes them on social media, a private blog or media
🧑🤝🧑 Follow-up event: organising a follow-up event with 10-15 participants is mandatory after the project, promoting its results with proof such as pictures, shared on the social media or websites of the partners
💶 Refund: after you share the promotional links and materials, the coordinator reimburses your tickets
Dissemination Is an Obligation
Participants and organisations have the obligation to promote the project's output, activities and results through:
🌐 Websites of the partner organisations
📱 Social media (pictures and videos on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube)
📻 Media, radio and television
🖼️ A project poster with information about the project
🎪 Public events
🏫 Schools, universities and cooperation centres
Preparation and Things to Bring
🎫 Travel documents: bring all travel documents: boarding passes, bus tickets, train tickets
🏪 NGO Market: leave the PowerPoints and promo videos at home; in the real world we often have only a few minutes to explain our work to policy makers, young people and others, so be KISS: Keep It Simple and Short!
🎉 Cultural night: any activity is welcome (Kahoot quiz, video presentations, dances, songs, games, posters, flyers), and take your national flag!
👕 Clothes: there is no dress code, so bring whatever clothes make you feel comfortable
After Selection
Selected participants join a project WhatsApp group (only selected participants) and complete an obligatory online registration (only confirmed participants). Both links are shared in the infopack for confirmed participants only.
How to Apply
Read the infopack first, then apply through the online application form for your country: one form is for Italy, and a separate form is for Serbia (4 places, aged 25+). The host organisation selects the participants. Keep in mind that selected participants must book their travel before 15 November 2026. For more tips, see our guide on how to apply for Erasmus+ projects.
Explore more Training Courses and Youth Exchanges in the Erasmus+ opportunities section on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to PLASTICWISE?
Youth workers, trainers and socially active staff of organisations aged 18+ who live in Italy or Serbia. The Serbian places are for participants aged 25+, and each national team of 4 must be gender-balanced (2+2).
Is the training course free?
Accommodation, food and coffee breaks are 100% covered by Erasmus+, and travel costs are reimbursed up to €309 for Italy and Serbia. Travel and health insurance is compulsory and not covered.
When is the application deadline?
Apply by 14 November 2026. Selected participants must buy their tickets before 15 November 2026.
Where exactly will I stay?
In studios at the Journalists' Village of Pervolia, Larnaca 7560, about 2-5 minutes from the beach and 10-15 minutes by car from Larnaca International Airport.
How do I get from the airport to the venue?
Take bus 429 or 430 from Larnaca International Airport (about 20 minutes, €2.70 single fare bought from the driver). Taxi transportation is not allowed.
Can I stay extra days in Cyprus?
Yes, up to 2 extra travel days before or after the project. Tickets beyond this limit are not reimbursed, and you cover the extra days yourself.
What do I need to do to get my travel reimbursed?
Submit your boarding passes and invoices, create and share promotion material, and organise a mandatory follow-up event with 10-15 participants. After you share the promotional links and materials, the coordinator reimburses your tickets.
Do I need previous experience with plastic pollution?
No. The course wants a mix of experienced participants and people new to the topic, as long as they are socially active, engaged locally and ready to take part in the whole project.
Project Snapshot
📌 Type: Erasmus+ Training Course (KA153 mobility of youth workers)
📍 Location: Journalists' Village of Pervolia, Pervolia, Larnaca, Cyprus
🗓️ Activity Dates: 24 February 2027 (arrival) - 4 March 2027 (departure)
🌍 Countries: Italy, Serbia
🎂 Age: 18+ (Serbia: 25+)
🔢 Project Number: 2026-1-CY01-KA153-YOU-000390838
Deadline
⏳ 14 November 2026
Links
🇮🇹 Application form (Italy): https://forms.gle/tkyXq5yM4SnNqEzFA
🇷🇸 Application form (Serbia): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckOE6otxYDG0jERPKzXjvzC9-zkAOqCJjt0Sl8oM8E4DZqDA/viewform
📄 Infopack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15k_G59eBS1MilbF9Qset-Vhi2PUIWiKA/view
🐝 Bee the Future CY: https://beethefuturecy.org/
✉️ Contact (Vasiliki Nikolaou, President of Bee the Future CY): beethefuturecyprus@gmail.com
🗂️ Erasmus+ project card: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/search/details/2026-1-CY01-KA153-YOU-000390838
📐 Erasmus+ distance calculator: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/resources-and-tools/distance-calculator
🚌 Cyprus bus routes and timetables: https://www.publictransport.com.cy/routes/page/routes-and-timetables
▶️ Pervolia area video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7lI91vDQ7I
