Research and Study Visits

As part of the Youth Leading Green Energy Transition (YLGET) project, young people and youth workers from Romania, Türkiye, and Bulgaria took part in a series of coordinated research and study visits designed to deepen their understanding of renewable energy, sustainability, and community involvement. Each country offered a distinct learning environment—from solar and hydropower facilities to sustainable heritage sites and protected natural areas—allowing participants to explore diverse models of the green transition. Together, these experiences built practical knowledge, strengthened intercultural cooperation, and supported the development of youth-driven initiatives for a more sustainable future.

Hands-on Learning, Renewable Energy Exploration, and Youth Empowerment

In Romania, the YLGET project has created meaningful opportunities for young people and youth workers to explore how renewable energy, environmental protection, and local heritage contribute to Europe’s green transition. Through a series of carefully designed study visits and research activities, participants engaged directly with experts, modern energy facilities, and protected natural environments, gaining real-world insights into sustainable development.

The visits enhanced young people’s motivation to take part in the green energy transition and empowered them to share their learning with peers, teachers, and local communities. Romania’s role in the YLGET project demonstrates how experiential learning can inspire future leaders in sustainability, energy education, and climate resilience.

After School

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Study Visit Highlights

🔹 Răchiți Village – Solar Energy in Action
Participants visited the solar power plant in Răchiți village, where an energy engineer introduced the technical and environmental aspects of solar energy production. The 3 MW installation provided a practical demonstration of how photovoltaic systems reduce emissions and support local energy needs. Youth learned how solar farms are planned, maintained, and integrated into the national grid, strengthening their understanding of Romania’s renewable energy strategies.

🔹 Iron Gates II Hydropower Plant – Engineering and Environment
A key stop in the Romanian program was the Iron Gates II Hydropower Plant, one of the most important hydroelectric facilities on the Danube. Inside the turbine hall, participants explored the six Kaplan turbines—each with a capacity of 190 MW/h—and discussed hydropower’s role in Romania’s electricity mix. Energy specialists answered questions about water management, river ecosystems, and the challenges of balancing energy production with environmental protection.

🔹 Iron Gates Region Museum – From Ancient History to Modern Sustainability
The experience continued at the Iron Gates Region Museum, where youth discovered how the Danube shaped regional development from Roman times to the present. Exhibits on biodiversity, endangered species (such as sturgeon), and conservation efforts reinforced the link between environmental stewardship and cultural heritage.

Research and Best Practices Collected in Romania

As part of Activity A3, Edulifelong also contributed research by participating in the EU Climate Pact Annual Event, where the Romanian team gathered innovative educational methods, including:

Climate Fresk
Climate Walk
Comic-based climate storytelling

These methods will be integrated into the YLGET educational Digital Booklet to strengthen climate literacy and youth

engagement.

Learning Outcomes

The Romanian activities helped participants:

Understand how renewable energy systems operate in real-life settings
Connect environmental protection with engineering and cultural heritage
Strengthen critical thinking, teamwork, and civic engagement
Gather evidence for educational materials and youth-led content
Explore how history and innovation can work together toward a sustainable future

Sustainable Heritage, Civic Memory, and Green Transition Education

In Türkiye, the YLGET project offered participants a unique opportunity to explore the intersection between cultural heritage, democratic memory, and sustainability. Through an immersive study visit to Demokrasi ve Özgürlükler Adası (Yassıada), youth and youth workers examined how historical spaces can be transformed through eco-conscious design and how public memory can inspire future-oriented environmental action.

Türkiye’s contribution to YLGET demonstrated how youth engagement can be enriched through experiences that connect environmental awareness with historical and civic identity. The Yassıada visit inspired participants to reflect on sustainability as both a technical and cultural responsibility, empowering them to bring this perspective back to their communities.

Study Visit Highlights

🔹 Yassıada – A Living Example of Sustainable Transformation
Organized by SAYEGDER, the study visit brought participants to Yassıada, an island in the Sea of Marmara known for its layered historical significance and recent redevelopment into a cultural, educational, and memorial site.
Youth explored:

Adaptive reuse of historical structures
Elements of energy-efficient infrastructure
Green landscaping and coastal ecosystem protection
Interpretive spaces linking civic history with contemporary values

This environment provided an ideal setting to discuss how sustainability, democracy, and identity intersect in public spaces.

🔹 Workshops, Guided Reflections & Intercultural Dialogue
Throughout the visit, participants took part in structured workshops and reflection sessions focusing on:

Sustainable heritage management
Eco-conscious tourism practices
Environmental awareness through civic memory
Youth roles in advocating for a greener, more democratic future

These activities encouraged meaningful exchanges between Romanian, Bulgarian, and Turkish participants, fostering intercultural learning and a shared understanding of regional sustainability challenges.

Research and Best Practices Collected in Türkiye

SAYEGDER complemented the study visit with additional research through collaboration with local STEM educators,

facilitating workshops that demonstrated how science and technology education can empower young people

to engage with sustainability topics. These interactions provided valuable insights for developing future training modules

and hands-on learning activities within the project. Interview Report with STEM/STEAM Educators is available here.

Learning Outcomes

The Turkish activities helped participants:

Understand how renewable energy systems operate in real-life settings
Connect environmental protection with engineering and cultural heritage
Strengthen critical thinking, teamwork, and civic engagement
Gather evidence for educational materials and youth-led content
Explore how history and innovation can work together toward a sustainable future

Renewable Energy in Practice, Community Perspectives, and Nature Conservation

In Bulgaria, the YLGET project provided young people with a comprehensive learning experience that combined renewable energy exploration, community engagement, and environmental education. Organized by the International Youth Cultural Center – Burgas (IYCC), the study visits offered participants a real-world understanding of how the green transition unfolds at local and regional levels.

The Bulgarian study visits enriched the YLGET project by showing how renewable energy, local governance, and nature conservation come together to shape a sustainable future. Participants left with increased motivation, practical knowledge, and a deeper appreciation for the complex challenges of the green transition. The activities also strengthened cooperation between schools, youth workers, and local institutions, supporting long-term community engagement.

Study Visit Highlights

🔹 Photovoltaic Power Plants – Solar Energy for the Future
Participants visited solar power facilities in and around Malko Turnovo and Bulgarovo, where they joined explanatory sessions on how photovoltaic systems function in both rural and urban settings.
They learned about:

Energy generation and storage
Integration of solar power into local grids
Environmental and economic benefits of solar installations
Challenges faced by small communities adopting renewable technologies

These visits offered youth clear, practical insights into Bulgaria’s growing role in renewable energy production.

🔹 Meetings with Local Authorities and Communities
In both towns, participants met with local residents and the mayors of Malko Turnovo and Bulgarovo. Through open discussions, they heard diverse perspectives on:

Regional development in the context of the green transition
Community acceptance and concerns about renewable energy
Employment opportunities linked to new energy sectors

This direct engagement highlighted the social dimension of sustainability and the importance of including local communities in energy decision-making.

🔹 Strandzha Nature Park – Nature Conservation and Biodiversity
A guided eco-hike to the Dokuzak Waterfall introduced participants to Bulgaria’s largest protected area. The visit emphasized:

Biodiversity preservation
Ecotourism as a sustainable development model
The role of protected areas in climate resilience

Led by a certified mountain guide, the excursion connected renewable energy learning with environmental protection, reinforcing the interdependence of technology and nature.

🔹 Prosumer Energy in Practice
Participants also visited a local business implementing a prosumer energy model, gaining insight into decentralized production, energy independence, and the practical application of green technologies in industry.

Research and Best Practices Collected in Bulgaria

IYCC further contributed to Activity A3 by participating in the Seminar on Climate Change, Green Policies, and Sustainable Development held in Burgas under the Horizon Europe project “Regions4Climate.”
During the event, the organization: