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Four Years of Youth as a Driving Force: The Journey of The Planet One Project!

Between 2021 and 2024, three organizations—Fryshuset, Greenpeace, and Armenian Progressive Youth—joined forces to lead Planet One.

Leveraging the collective strengths and extensive experience of these organizations in engaging youth, creating platforms, and advocating for climate and environmental justice, the aim was to empower the growing global youth movement for climate justice.

Makerspaces: Empowering Youth to Create and Learn

The core strategy of Planet One was to establish physical meeting spaces, known as makerspaces, for young people aged 15–25 in six countries: Armenia, Cameroon, Kenya, Sweden, South Africa, and Hungary. These makerspaces were designed as safe environments where young individuals could learn about climate and environmental issues, engage in creative expression through hands-on learning, and develop their own solution-driven projects—ranging from small-scale urban farming to global climate campaigns. Each makerspace was equipped with tools, materials, and a sense of determination, offering young people the resources and inspiration to drive meaningful change.

Photo from Momentum, the makerspace in Stockholm, Sweden.
Photographer: Olivia Forsberg

Four Years, 45,000 Young Participants, and Lasting Impact

The ambitions for this project were nothing short of bold. At the outset, the goals felt almost insurmountable. Establishing physical hubs worldwide and engaging thousands of young people seemed easy enough on paper, but the reality was far more complex. Today, with every target surpassed, Planet One is a testament to what can be achieved when empowering young people to grow, connect, and create meaningful change on both local and global scales.
The heartfelt testimonials from participants speak for themselves:

“Thank you for giving young people a platform to showcase our strengths and influence policymakers in our communities.”

“My time at the space was unforgettable, and I valued every moment there. The knowledge and insights I gained about environmental issues were truly invaluable”

“The makerspace gave me the opportunity to spread my creative wings and raise awareness about nature.”

Photo from an alumni day at Ubunifu Hub, our makerspace in Nairobi, Kenya.
Photographer: Solomon Kinuthia

A key factor in the project’s success was the skilled and dedicated local teams. Each team included a coordinator and youth leaders who, with their local knowledge and networks, built trust and facilitated the youth’s energy into meaningful actions. Thanks to these teams and the participants, over 4,000 activities were organized. Beyond scheduled events, the spaces were open for drop-in use 1–4 days a week and were freely available for young people to book for climate-related meetings or workshops. Through the Planet One youth fund and support from the local teams, young participants initiated over 6,800 projects. These ranged from clothing swap days and podcast recordings to urban gardening projects, banner painting for demonstrations, workshops on sustainable energy, and much more.

Photo of jewelry making from recycled materials at the Bolygó makerspace, Budapest, Hungary.
Photographer: Lili Szabó

In addition to the strong local teams, another group focused on the global aspects: offering support to the makerspaces when needed, fostering a sense of global unity, and creating opportunities for cross-border exchanges of knowledge and experiences. These interactions primarily took place online on a weekly basis, but also through in-person global activities. We have especially found memories of the two youth exchanges, where Planet One brought together 20-30 young people from each makerspace to share their experiences, knowledge, and insights.

Image from the youth exchange in 2024 in Armenia. Photo: Nelly Paytyan
Photo from Mboa Hub’s Earth Day event 2024, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Photographer: Nene Fembe (Nene Febd Studios)
Alternative members at Boo Alt House in Vanadzor, Armenia

We know that the legacy of Planet One and all the makerspaces will live on. One way we’re sharing the lessons and inspiration from these years is by creating an online Toolkit and a downloadable Handbook. The Handbook is open to all, so get started and launch your own makerspace. Both the Toolkit and the Handbook were made to let the knowledge and experiences that were gained throughout the project to live on, to spread and share our knowledge, to act as an inspiration and guiding tool for similar projects, organizations and meeting hubs, and to support the continuation of the projects’ makerspaces that live on after 2024.

The Next Chapter in the Planet One story – Planet One Network
Planet One has now evolved into an informal global network of youth-driven hubs dedicated to climate action and environmental advocacy. Operating as a dynamic and inclusive learning community, Planet One bridges the gap for collaborations among members. By joining, you’ll gain access to shared resources, collaborative meetings, and opportunities to empower youth, diversify the climate movement, and inspire innovative solutions.
Would you like your hub to be part of Planet One?
Reach out to us at olga@bolygo.org to learn more!
Makerspaces:
Alternative Youth Center, Yerevan, Armenia
Bolygó, Budapest, Hungary
Mboa Hub, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Momentum, Stockholm, Sweden
Ubunifu Hub, Nairobi, Kenya
Ubuntu Hub, Johannesburg, South Africa

Want to Hear More Voices About Planet One?

Check out the short documentary about the project: Leading the Change – Youth for Climate Justice.

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Planet One celebration – you are invited!

What: Online party to conclude the Planet One project!

During its lifespan, the initiative has reached over 40 000 participants who have joined over 3500 actives and themselves launched over 6000 sustainability initiatives.

Join participants, staff and partners for a digital celebration!

A more detailed agenda will be shared closer to the event.

When: November 29, 2:00-3:00 pm CET // 2:00-3:00 pm WAT // 3:00-4:00 pm SAST // 4:00-5:00 pm EAT // 5:00-6:00 pm AMT

Who: The event is open to all who have been part of the project during 2021-2024.

Feel free to forward the invite to people within the Planet One community.

Join us here!

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Planet vs Plastics: Earth Day 2024

Why do we need to talk about plastics?

Plastics pervades our existence! From habitats to bodies, driven by profit, disproportionately impacting poor nations through waste colonialism. Plastic production is in fact a human rights violation since the people and the most marginalized communities who have contributed the least to the escalating planetary crisis are affected the most.

Did you know that over 99% of plastics are made of fossil fuels? Petrochemical companies promote plastics as cheap, but their true cost includes biodiversity loss, human health risks, and climate impact.

The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has started to negotiate on a legally binding plastic treaty that will include the whole life-cycle of plastic. However we demand that this treaty involves the most marginalized communities in the decision making process, to ensure that their health and safety are prioritized over plastic pollution.

So the simple answer to why we need to talk about plastic is: it can never be a part of a sustainable and just development. Companies try to greenwash by stating that plastic and planetary wellbeing can be combined – but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

We demand policies that prioritize the health and safety of communities and wellbeing of the planet and future generations over the profit of petrochemical companies.

Support the planet in the battle against plastics by signing this petition for a strong Global Plastics Treaty!

And – go out on the streets and organize yourself because we are the change!

Video created by Planet One Youth

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Long-term ESC volunteering in Planet One

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

Join us at Planet One, a vibrant community for the global youth movement striving for climate justice. Our makerspaces foster hands-on learning and activism for a sustainable future and operate in six countries: Hungary, South Africa, Kenya, Sweden, Cameroon, and Armenia, empowering the next generation to become catalysts for change. As part of our collaborative effort between Fryshuset and Greenpeace, you can bring your own creativity and contribute to our ongoing projects, amplifying youth voices worldwide. Together, let’s shape a greener, more equitable planet!

The volunteer will be part of the global team of Planet One and will be based at Fryshuset in Stockholm, Sweden. The main responsibility will be to support with editing, graphic design and, if possible, also illustrations, both for social media content and for an online handbook that will be developed during the year.

ACCOMMODATION, FOOD AND TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS

All costs are covered by the European Solidarity Corps program, including travel costs to Stockholm, Sweden. Accommodation will be provided by Fryshuset and pocket money to cover food, local transportation, etc., will be transferred monthly to the bank account of the volunteer.

TRAINING DURING THE ACTIVITY

Volunteers will receive two trainings organized by the Swedish National Agency: on-arrival and mid-term training. Additional trainings organized by Planet One or Fryshuset may be available.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

We are seeking a volunteer (between 18-30 years old) with a passion for climate action and a drive for change, who possesses a range of creative skills and digital expertise to contribute to our team. We prefer candidates who have: Knowledge in graphic design, particularly with Adobe programs such as Photoshop and InDesign Experience of making illustrations Experience of video and photo editing If possible, knowledge of WordPress Additionally, familiarity with social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok would be advantageous. You are encouraged to submit a portfolio.

ACTIVITY DATES

 A total of 52 week(s) during the period 22/04/2024 to 21/04/2025


ACTIVITY LOCATION

 Mårtensdalsgatan 6, 120 30 Stockholm Sweden


LOOKING FOR PARTICIPANTS FROM

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia


ACTIVITY TOPICS

 Citizenship and democratic participation

 Environment and natural protection

 Creativity and culture


DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

 Application deadline: 22/04/2024

APPLY HERE!