To the limits and beyond, sustainably: YOALIN kicks off the summer
With its kick-off event in Liechtenstein, YOALIN has launched a new season, with some 40 young people from the Alpine region gathering to learn more about climate-friendly travel, ecological networking, and sustainable mobility. Since 2018, the CIPRA project has been connecting young people who want to explore the Alps sustainably.
A varied programme awaited participants: a walk led by bird expert Steven Lampert, a hands-on nature conservation project with the Liechtenstein Society for Environmental Protection (LGU), and in-depth discussions on sustainable travel and personal travel experiences. The weekend was rounded off by insights from “Ambassadors” – former participants who continue to help shape the project to this day.
What stood out most, however, was the encounters with people from across the entire Alpine region. Since the project’s launch in 2018, YOALIN has enabled young people to explore the Alps in a climate-friendly way during the summer, gain new perspectives on sustainable travel, and become part of a steadily growing community.
There’s also plenty happening in addition to the kick-off: one MeetUp – a regional community gathering – has already taken place in Slovenia. During a hike, participants were able to make travel plans. “We talked about overtourism, nature conservation, and how we can all travel a little more mindfully”, says Ambassador Élise Bouhélier, who organised the MeetUp. As a former YOALIN traveler, she volunteers for the project. “I want to give others the same opportunity I had. YOALIN doesn’t end when summer is over; it creates a ripple effect that spreads far and wide.”
YOALIN is an initiative of CIPRA and the CIPRA Youth Advisory Council (CYC) and is supported by the Alpine Convention and Working Group 7 (AG7) of EUSALP. It is funded by two contracting parties to the Alpine Convention – Austria and Germany – the Lebenswertes Liechtenstein Foundation, and the Erasmus+ project “Alpine Youth on the Move”.
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