Challenge Europe project

Who supports Challenge Europe?

Throughout the project, we have formed partnerships with a large number of organisations across Europe spanning all sectors, including the corporate, non-governmental, environmental and academic worlds (see the relevant Country Network pages for a list of organisations that we are currently working with).

We are also working with the European Commission and its Representations in several participating countries. Through these partnerships, we support the Climate Advocates in their quest, offering them access to some of the best minds in Europe through established networks of expert groups and individuals.

What We Offer to Our Partners? Our Partner

· Opportunities to explore and meet their own objectives with regard to climate change.

· Engagement with future leaders in their own country and across Europe – exceptional young people who come from a range of backgrounds and have the motivation to bring about change

· Access to our network of experts, decision-makers and policy-makers

· Media exposure andreach tothe wider public across Europe

· Increased public awareness and visibility through co-branding

· Impact in local communities through the development and implementation of Challenge Europe ideas.

· Partnership with the British Council, an international organisation with 75 years of experience in creating opportunities for people worldwide

What our partners and advocates say

“Challenge Europe is an incredible opportunity for me to gain more knowledge, contacts and ideas that I can use in my future work”.

Catharina Bratt, management consultant, Accenture, Sweden

“I firmly believe in the project. We decided to take part for three main reasons: the innovative approach, the synergy of many institutions and partners across Europe, and building a strong network of future influencers in Slovenia and across borders.”

Vida Ogorelec Wagner, director of Umanotera, the Slovenian foundation for Sustainable Development

“Challenge Europe brings together some of the most talented young people on the island and gives them the support, resources and most of all the opportunity to work together to find positive responses to the climate crisis. The innovative projects undertaken by the 21 ‘advocates’ on the island of Ireland are already making an impact on the climate change debate. I feel privileged to be working with them towards a low carbon future.”

Davie Philip, Cultivate Centre, Project Mentor

“I was very happy to have taken part in the closing event of the Climate Camp and for having had the opportunity to join forces with you. The British Council deserves the full credit for the camp and we are proud to have had the opportunity to work with you.”

Maher Nasser, Director of the UN Information Service in Vienna, after participating in the Challenge Europe climate camp in Slovenia

Media Exposure

Challenge Europe has so far received more than 900 media mentions. Broadcast, electronic and print media in all 15 countries have reported on the project, the ’Climate Advocates’, and their work for the environment. For example:

· Slovenia: 81 media outlets covered our international climate camp, where 30 Climate Advocates from 6 countries defined their priorities for the Climate Summit in Copenhagen

· Sweden: TV4 and Sveriges Television held interviews with the Swedish ‘Climate Advocates’ with a total viewership of 230,000 people

· Lithuania: Over 200 media outlets have covered our “Garbage and Art” workshops and exhibition in 2009

· Czech Republic: Over a dozen media organisations attended our “eco-fashion” show held in Prague in March 2009

· Hungary: The media extensively reported the launch of the first carbon neutral climate information centre in Hungary, set up by the advocates in March 2009

· Finland: Advocates worked with a TV production company to produce a series called “Operation Earth”, which was broadcast on Finnish television during November 2008

There are potentially lots of ways in which companies / organisations can get involved with Challenge Europe. We are open to your ideas and will work with you to reach creative and innovative solutions that best suit your needs and objectives.

Interested? Contact us now

About the British Council

Connecting the UK to the world and the world to the UK, the British Council is Britain's international cultural relations organisation.Our long term experience has enabled us to build strong relationships with generations of government leaders, cultural institutions, policy makers, senior advisers and the wider general public and be a trusted partner for them.

Here are just a few facts:

Operating under a Royal Charter, we have been the UK’s international agency for cultural relations for 75 years
We work in 109 countries to build trust and understanding between people, communities and nations
We reach more than 85 million people a year through our work in the arts and creativity, education and training, science and technology, sport, good governance and human rights

With our in-depth knowledge of local networks and organisations we can find new and the most effective ways of working together with businesses.

Find out more on the British Council global website

Contact Us

If you would like to be part of this exciting project, please get in touch.

Your local country Project Manager
(you will find contact details for all the countries participating in the project in 2008 on the Country Network pages.)

Jana Hecová
Regional Project Manager, Challenge Europe
T +420 221 991 132
M +420 724 027 452
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A fun approach is what the Finnish Climate Advocates felt their project needed to convince people to stop using all the old excuses for not cycling. They presented cycling as something cool and desirable through organising workshops and cycling brunches where the positive outcomes of cycling were stressed and excuses challenged.