The program develops participants’ skills and knowledge about the environment, enhances communication and citizenship skills, individual initiative, teamwork, critical analysis, social responsibility, and leadership abilities.

YRE uses a tried and tested four-step methodology:

Step 1: Investigate a local environmental issue

  • Identify and define a local environmental issue
  • Investigate (look up, compare, interpret, evaluate) relevant information from primary and secondary sources
  • Identify key individuals and groups and find out what their different perspectives on the issue are, their approaches to resolving it, and their assumptions and goals
  • Conduct original research, such as surveys/questionnaires, and interview key individuals or groups to obtain first-hand information
  • Cover relevant historical, economic, social and/or political implications and possible consequences of the issue
  • Link the local environmental issue to the bigger global picture

Step 2: Research solutions to a local environmental problem or issue

  • Identify possible solutions through experts/stakeholders voices to the environmental issue and evaluate its likely effectiveness, giving reasons for and against (pros and cons)
  • The solutions presented have to be thoroughly explained, well argued and justified

Step 3: Report on the local environmental issue and its possible solutions through a journalistic piece

  • Identify your target audience and choose the best way to reach and communicate with them, i.e. which media do they read/watch/listen to?
  • Plan how you will report on the issue (who needs to be informed? how? when?) and use the appropriate journalistic format and style
  • Create an article, photograph, or video that documents the environmental issue; where possible you should suggest a solution through the experts/stakeholders voices
  • Take a positive approach to inspiring change and finding a solution

Step 4: Disseminate with the local audience:

  • Share (disseminate) your work to a local audience through the media, e.g. newspaper, magazine, radio, television, social media, exhibition, film show, local events, etc.