Together with the partners Bundesjugendvertretung, CliMates Austria, GLOBAL 2000, Landjugend Österreich, CEOs FOR FUTURE and BILLA apprentice and junior staff development, the BILLA Foundation Blühendes Österreich supports the Changemakers of today and tomorrow. "We have deliberately addressed the project of our Foundation Blühendes Österreich Changemaker #nature to the generation of the future in order to create an even stronger awareness for biodiversity and climate protection. Young people in particular want to make a difference and this initiative not only gives them a voice, but also makes them active shapers of sustainable development in Austria," emphasizes Robert Nagele, BILLA CEO.
Changemaker #nature is funded by the Biodiversity Fund of the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology.
By young people for young people
Changemaker #nature provides a total of 300,000 euros for biodiversity projects, which will be awarded in three calls in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Young people are actively involved in the selection process: the volunteer jury consists exclusively of people between the ages of 14 and 27. In addition, the funded project partners are supported by experts who provide coaching and mentoring.
"Every person has an effect and every individual decides if it should be positive. With the Changmaker #nature initiative, I have the chance to support the positive effect of others. I am happy to be part of the jury and look forward to the great projects", Melanie Klauda, BILLA apprentice and jury member, underlines her motivation to actively participate in the youth initiative. Sophie Plaß, Deputy Country Director of the Vienna Rural Youth & Young Gardeners and jury member is also enthusiastic: "I see the Changemaker #nature initiative as a great step forward in letting the youth have their say and take action, whether in the projects or also in the jury. I'm excited to be part of this initiative and I'm looking forward to seeing all the great projects that definitely make the 'Change'!"
Empowering youth & promoting diversity of opinion
Changemaker #nature brings together young actors from rural and urban areas. With the integration and participation of young people, the initiative also supports diversity of opinion and contributes to the education of democratic processes.
"The first call of Changemaker #nature impressively shows that young people want to get involved and take responsibility. Both the young project promoters and the volunteer jury prove that our youth can make an effective contribution to biodiversity and climate protection and to sustainable development in Austria," emphasizes Hildegard Aichberger, Director of Blühendes Österreich & Director of oekostrom AG."
The winners will not only receive financial support, but will also be accompanied by workshops and networking meetings as part of the Changemaker #nature Academy, as well as media work.
Strengthen civil society engagement
Changemaker #nature is funded by the Biodiversity Fund of the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology. "Biodiversity secures the foundations of life and is a central prerequisite for sustainable development. With the Biodiversity Fund, we have created a funding channel that will contribute to the implementation of the Austrian Biodiversity Strategy and the achievement of Austria's biodiversity goals," explains Gabriele Obermayr, Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology.
Ideas for more biodiversity - the first 14 Changemakers
In the first Call Changemaker #nature 2022, the young jury selected 14 outstanding projects from a total of 43 submissions, which are supported by Blühendes Österreich and the Biodiversity Fund of the Ministry for Climate Protection. A total of 100,000 euros was distributed, with a total project volume of 170,000 euros. The project ideas came from the rural youth as well as from "Streetwork" youth workers, young farmers or students. Rural areas were just as well represented as urban environments. The selected projects make a valuable contribution to the protection, preservation and improvement of high-quality and threatened biotope types such as dry grasslands, extensively used pasture landscapes, wetlands as well as wet meadows and have an impact on the area of more than 40 hectares. Whether measures for flowering areas with native meadow species, water bodies, bats, hedges with native woody plants, butterflies, fruit trees or green lizards - the content range of ideas for more biodiversity and species diversity is large. Hundreds of teenagers and young adults are involved in the current projects.
Submit here as of September 18, 2023: www.bluehendesoesterreich.at/changemaker-nature
About Blühendes Österreich - BILLA charitable private foundation
The BILLA Foundation Blühendes Österreich is committed to a healthy environment and ecologically sustainable agriculture. Therefore, since 2015, Blühendes Österreich has been supporting around 230 farmers, nature conservation organizations, municipalities and other initiatives that protect our habitats, animals and plants through responsible agriculture and valuable environmental projects. Already 1056 hectares of endangered biotope areas are concretely secured. The website bluehendesoesterreich.at is the strongest digital platform for nature tourism and nature content. In the nature experience portal, Blühendes Österreich bundles close to 100 organizations with thousands of nature events per year. The citizen science app "Schmetterlinge Österreichs" (Butterflies of Austria) is one of the largest nature observation apps in the German-speaking world, with over 50,000 downloads and the associated desktop version. www.bluehendesoesterreich.at
Inquiries & Contact:
Dr. Judith Terlizzi,Head of Communication Blühendes Österreich, +43 676 711 74 50, j.terlizzi@bluehendesoesterreich.at
