In early December, HELIOS organised a dissemination and networking event in Kraków, bringing together a diverse audience of youth workers, Erasmus+ students, academic staff from the Jagiellonian University, ongoing mobilities’ participants, and representatives of partner NGOs. The event marked an important milestone for the Amazons project, as it presented both the outcomes of the Amazons research and the project’s policy brief to a wider international audience.
The dissemination event took place alongside a seminar dedicated to professionals working with young people, mainly from partner organisations. Their participation, alongside university community, created a rich learning environment where formal (academicians), non-formal (NGO workers), and informal (peer-exchange-based) education perspectives intersected, encouraging dialogue and exchange among participants with varied backgrounds and experiences.
Meaningful Discussions on Women’s Environmental Leadership
The presentations sparked lively and thoughtful discussions around the environmental leadership of women and girls. Participants reflected on the structural and cultural barriers that continue to limit women’s participation in leadership roles, particularly in environmental and sustainability-related fields. At the same time, the conversations highlighted the transformative impact women leaders can have on sustainable development, community resilience, and social change.
A shared conclusion emerged during the discussions: as educators, youth workers, and facilitators of learning, whether in formal education systems, non-formal youth work, or informal peer-learning contexts, we carry a responsibility to actively encourage and support women and girls to take leadership roles. Empowering women’s leadership is not only a matter of equality, but a crucial component of building a more sustainable future.
A Diverse and Engaged Audience
The event gathered around 40 participants, creating an intimate yet dynamic space for exchange. Among the attendees were representatives from a wide range of organisations active in youth work, education, social innovation, and environmental awareness, including:
- Asociatia Comunitatilor Interculturale (Romania)
- Enterprising Partners (Lithuania)
- Greek Youth Mobility – GYM (Greece)
- HAWK STARS – Associação para a Educação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento Social (Portugal)
- Healthy Generations Youth Group (Ireland)
- High on Life (Italy)
- STUDENT ERA (Slovakia)
- Tudatosságért és Környezetért Alapítvány (Hungary)
- Zdruzhenie na gragani AMPERSAND Skopje – Center for Development of Skills and Competences (North Macedonia)
The presence of these organisations enriched the discussions and strengthened networking opportunities, opening doors for future cooperation and the wider dissemination of Amazons project results across different countries and contexts.
Looking Ahead
By sharing research findings and policy recommendations with practitioners and educators working directly with young people, we hope we contributed to amplifying the project’s impact, within and beyond academic and policy circles.
As the Amazons project continues, such events help us make sure that its outcomes translate into concrete actions, supporting women and girls to step into leadership roles and shaping more inclusive, sustainable communities across Europe.
Amazons Project 
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