ASSOCIAÇÃO TRANSDISCIPLINAR N.E.W. LOOPS - NUTRIENTS, ENERGY AND WATER LOOPS

N.E.W. Loops - Nutrients, Energy and Water Loops is a Portuguese non-profit organization. We aim to introduce more sustainable ways of living in our society, through the conscious use of the basic natural resources: nutrients, energy and water. To achieve this, we aim at reinforcing the connection between people and nature and promote the introduction of technologies and means for the reuse and recycling of these goods, so that we can maximize the efficiency of its cycles (loops). Our association operates in an area strongly affected by youth social desertification caused mainly by seasonal and precarious work in the area of tourism and hospitality. Also, children but actually all ages are being more and more alienated from nature, which is taking a toll on their health and well-being. Consequently, our mission is to contribute to a more conscious and ecologically sustainable society. Our aims are I) to create and maintain a network of change agents; ii) to establish a participatory educational platform composed of formal, non-formal and informal education models that instigates not only Active Citizenship but also social cohesion, especially in the area of environmental protection and education; iii) to stimulate the creativity, innovation and awareness of the general population regarding the conscious and sustainable use of natural resources, through hands-on learning and, art, such as social theatre, contributing to active citizenship; The association's activities that are ongoing and that are being planned to start soon include: i) a yearly educational program with courses and workshops on topics such as regenerative agriculture, upcycling, low-tech sustainable technologies, permaculture, non-formal pedagogies, etc.; ii) Permaculture school projects; iii) the development, participation and coordination of regional and international projects; iv) the organization of community events, volunteer days and forums; v) the collaboration and creation of a network of regenerative projects; vi) the development and maintenance of a pedagogical farm with a nursery of native species and climate smart gardens; vii) development of non- and informal outdoor education activities with children and youth. We collaborate with numerous local and european entities with the purpose of disseminating good environmental practices, reducing the individual and communal ecological footprint, as well as inspiring and motivating young people from the Algarve to become entrepreneurs in the growing green market, eventually guaranteeing a sustainable development of the Algarve territory. Our organization has vast experience in both formal and non-formal education in the areas of Marine Biology, Coastal Erosion, Eco-Hydrology, Performative and Visual Arts as well as in Permaculture, Bioconstruction, Organic Horticulture, Agroforestry, Natural Cosmetics, Herbal medicine and UP-Cycling. Our Association was specifically created with the aim of working regionally with Local Young People but also internationally through the ERASMUS+ program, since we strongly believe in the success of the various actions in this program and in the skills acquired (at all levels) by every young person who has the privilege of participating in international mobility. This next step that we are taking to register for the Quality label, to welcome and send young volunteers, will be a catalyst for our values, goals, methodologies to be applied in a broader and lasting way. We hope that with the possibility of these exchanges between volunteers, us and the local society we can contribute to a more conscious and ecologically sustainable society. "Today's young people, in the future will be the guardians of our planet and it is our responsibility to prepare them now."