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LOCAL ACTIVITIES

We believe that impactful change begins at the grassroots level. That’s why we invest deeply in creating engaging, accessible, and community-rooted activities that take place regularly in our two main locations: Riga and Gulbene. These activities are not just events - they are part of a broader mission to educate, empower, and inspire youth to become active change makers for a more sustainable and inclusive future.

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Our local programs are open to young people from diverse backgrounds, with a focus on those from rural areas or facing social barriers. Using non-formal education, game-based learning, and hands-on experiences, we foster learning environments that are joyful, participatory, and grounded in real-world relevance.

Game Nights: Learn by Playing

Our Game Nights are among our most popular monthly activities. They create a relaxed and social atmosphere where young people come together to play a wide selection of board and card games available on-site.

Curious to learn something new? We also offer educational games focused on the Sustainable Development Goals, climate change, civic engagement, and wellbeing.

At EFE, we love to get creative - and that includes designing our own games! As a participant, you might be the first to test and showcase our newly developed tools, including simulation games, board games, and card-based activities, etc. Game nights allow participants to experience how learning and play can merge, sparking critical thinking, collaboration, meaningful dialogue, and are also a great space to network, de-stress, and build community connections.

Story Events: Share to Empower

Our Story Events offer a platform for personal expression, peer learning, and community dialogue. Centered around themes like eco-anxiety, activism, or green entrepreneurship, we invite EFE members, guest speakers, and young participants to share stories, ideas, and experiences. The events promote empathy, reflection, and belonging, emphasizing the importance of young voices and their power to inspire. Participants leave with new perspectives and a renewed sense of purpose, empowered to act in their communities. Through storytelling workshops, spoken word performances, or creative writing sessions, these events encourage young voices to shine, fostering an environment where everyone feels heard and valued. Story Events cultivate compassionate leaders by connecting personal experiences to broader societal themes, with shared stories and bonds strengthening the EFE community.

Ecology Lab: Hands-On Environmental Discovery

By combining sustainability, science and creativity, we invite youth to tackle environmental challenges through DIY experiments and eco-design projects focused on waste reduction, biodiversity, and renewable energy. Participants engage with natural materials, gaining a deeper understanding of ecological systems and practical skills applicable in their communities. 

Guided by knowledgeable facilitators, participants experiment and develop solutions to environmental issues while emphasizing teamwork and community collaboration. This supportive environment encourages idea exchange and celebrates successes, inspiring young people to become active change-makers. Ultimately, the program equips participants with skills and a commitment to environmental responsibility, nurturing a generation of creative thinkers dedicated to ecological mindfulness and innovation.

Sustainability Café: Conversations That Matter

The Sustainability Café series is all about making complex environmental topics approachable and relatable. Taking place in informal settings (around coffee and cookies) these events facilitate open discussions on topics like fast fashion, climate misinformation, sustainable diets, and digital pollution.
The aim is to build climate literacy and agency through accessible dialogue, while fostering a culture of everyday activism. Participants are encouraged to bring their own ideas, concerns, or local solutions, creating a collaborative environment for peer-to-peer learning and shared action planning. Through fostering curiosity and engagement, the café enables participants to become informed advocates for change within their own communities. We offer a welcoming space to connect, learn, and collaborate on building a more sustainable future.

Green Hub: From Ideas to Action

Our Green Hub functions as an incubator for youth-led sustainability initiatives, offering a space where young people collaborate on projects, co-host workshops, and receive mentoring from EFE facilitators and environmental experts.

Through project-based learning, participants explore topics such as climate justice, green innovation, and circular economy, while developing soft skills in teamwork, communication, and project management. The Green Hub has sparked community garden projects, upcycling campaigns, and pop-up eco markets, all led by local youth. These efforts have not only fostered environmental awareness but also empowered young people to become active agents of change in their communities. The Hub frequently hosts guest speakers who provide insights into emerging environmental challenges and solutions.

Nature Days: Reconnecting with the Environment

In both rural and urban contexts, Nature Days are a vital part of our local outreach. These immersive outdoor events—such as forest hikes, clean-ups, nature art, orienteering, and eco-themed scavenger hunts—reconnect youth with the natural world and deepen their appreciation for local ecosystems.
These experiences are designed not only to educate but to promote mental wellbeing, physical activity, and intercultural connection. Our “painting with nature” workshops or forest storytelling walks have been especially popular among school pupils and young volunteers seeking deeper nature-based reflection.

Whether they are planting trees, creating art from natural materials, or simply enjoying the serenity of a forest trail, participants gain invaluable insights into the interdependence between humans and nature. 

Pilot Labs: Co-Designing New Tools

Our local activities also serve as vibrant testing grounds for innovation in education. Through workshops, game nights, labs, and community events, we actively involve young people in the development, testing, and improvement of educational tools created within our EU projects. Whether it’s a new board game, a simulation exercise on civic participation, or an interactive digital resource, these tools are first brought to life in our local settings — in Gulbene, Riga, and across Latvia (upon request we can also come to your city).

Participants take on the role of testers, critics, co-creators, and facilitators, offering their perspectives to help us refine mechanics, improve clarity, and ensure inclusiveness. This approach not only raises the quality of our outputs but also empowers youth to see themselves as change makers within larger educational and social innovation processes.

Community Events & Networking: Fun with Purpose

Our community events and networking activities aim to unite diverse groups in inclusive and purposeful ways. We organize cultural gatherings, thematic networking sessions, seasonal events, and outreach initiatives to foster dialogue, peer exchange, and cooperation, breaking down social barriers and strengthening community cohesion.
In an age of digital noise and social fragmentation, these face-to-face encounters build lasting connections and civic resilience, empowering participants to network, initiate joint actions, and promote active citizenship. We believe every idea exchanged and partnership formed contributes to meaningful community transformation.

Events are designed to be accessible and welcoming, attracting active members, and newcomers.

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