Labour markets are changing, and Europe’s economies need to prepare. The ‘green transition’ will transform whole industries with opportunities that will benefit both workers and the environment. It’s essential to equip young people with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in sustainability-orientated careers.

Funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), the BerufsKlima work camps, organised by the German Climate Foundation, offer 16–25-year-olds the chance to acquire sustainability competencies that will enable them to prosper in green careers.

Created by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, the four-day experiences give participants the opportunity to learn about sustainability and climate protection in everyday life and work. Through workshops, business games and company visits, young people are able to develop their green competencies, receive career advice and reflect on their own potential.

At the end of the four days, participants are offered an enjoyable and unforgettable experience: a trip on a traditional sail training ship. Aimed at encouraging teamwork, this experience focuses on developing participants’ core competencies and improving their decision-making skills.

The work camps are a unique opportunity for young people’s personal and professional development. As Franke attests: ‘[…] my expectations were exceeded in everything. I have been back home for several days now and am still overwhelmed by everything that happened.’

More than 350 young people have participated in the work camps. Adrian, who was among them, highlights how his experience has changed the way he thinks about work.

‘[It] was such an important experience for me. It made me get involved in activism and created a huge change in my career.’

Two years on, Adrian continued to build on the foundational sustainability competencies and understanding he gained from the experience. ‘I led a study group at my university, organised strikes for Fridays for Future, and [now] work with the city government on sustainable solutions,’ he says.

Thanks to projects like BerufsKlima work camps, young people are entering the careers that will drive Europe’s green transition.