Recognition of the TDFF Programme

Over the past years, the TDFF programme has received important international recognition for its work in the fields of sustainable tourism, youth participation, and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

What started in 2022 as a small initiative that brought together young volunteers, sustainable travel, and peer-to-peer education has gradually developed into an internationally recognised educational programme involving young people from several European countries.

These recognitions are not only an honour for the programme itself, but also an important confirmation that youth-led educational approaches can create a meaningful long-term impact and inspire young people to actively shape a more sustainable future.

WYSE Travel Confederation – Global Youth Travel Awards finalist

One of the first major international recognitions came in 2024, when the TDFF programme was selected as one of the five finalists for the Global Youth Travel Awards in the category “Best Responsible Tourism Initiative”.

The programme was recognised alongside strong international projects from around the world and became the only finalist from the European Union.

The nomination highlighted several important aspects of the programme, including workshops on sustainable tourism for young people, peer-to-peer learning methods, active youth participation, and the strong connection between travel, sustainability, and social responsibility.

Being shortlisted for the final selection as a programme that was only two and a half years old at that time was already a major recognition and a source of motivation for the entire international team.

With the continued support of the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU), the European Union, partner organisations, youth workers, and dedicated volunteers, the TDFF programme continued to grow and further develop its activities internationally. This journey eventually led to another important international recognition in 2026.

Recognition by UNESCO and the German Federal Ministry of Education

Another important milestone came when the German Commission for UNESCO, together with the German Federal Ministry of Education, recognised the TDFF programme as a high-quality educational initiative in the field of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

The recognition highlighted the following aspects:

• participatory educational approach,
• active youth involvement,
• creative learning methods,
• innovative work in the field of sustainability education.

According to the official wording connected to the award, the programme was recognised as a best-practice example of innovative educational processes and youth participation in ESD.

The recognition represents an important acknowledgement of the collective work carried out by volunteers, youth workers, and partner organisations involved in the programme over the years.

These recognitions are especially important because they confirm that youth-led educational approaches and non-formal learning can play a significant role in shaping more sustainable attitudes towards tourism, mobility, and everyday life.

Recognition belongs to the entire international team

This would not have been possible without the incredible work of volunteers, youth workers, workshop facilitators, partner organisations, schools, and participants from different countries. Today, the TDFF programme connects young people from Slovenia, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and other countries through seminars, workshops, campaigns, educational tools, and activities focused on sustainable tourism and responsible travel.

A special value of the programme lies in its peer-to-peer approach, where young people educate and inspire other young people through their own experiences, ideas, creativity, and active participation.

Workshops remain the foundation of the TDFF programme and represent the core educational tool through which young people explore topics connected to sustainability, tourism, mobility, and environmental responsibility. Some of the educational materials and workshop concepts are already publicly available through the TDFF website.

Today, more than 100 young volunteers from different countries have already been actively involved in the programme. Together, we have delivered more than 150 workshops and reached over 3,500 students through educational activities connected to sustainable tourism, mobility, and responsible travel.

The story continues – follow and support us

The recognitions received by the TDFF programme are not seen as a final achievement, but rather as encouragement to continue building meaningful educational opportunities for young people across Europe. We strongly believe that sustainable tourism education should not remain only a theoretical discussion, but become something young people actively experience, shape, and share with others.

Through workshops, seminars, campaigns, international cooperation, and creative youth participation, the TDFF programme will continue to encourage young people to travel differently, think critically, and help create a more sustainable future.

If you would like to follow our journey and support the programme, join the TDFF community, explore our educational materials and TDFF blog, and follow us on social media.