Emmaus groups meet students: raising awareness among young people of our values and causes

Many Emmaus groups across Europe work with schools to raise students’ awareness of overconsumption, solidarity and environmental issues. As well as promoting these values, these initiatives help to introduce the next generation of citizens to the Emmaus movement. We went to meet some of them.

There is no shortage of ideas for engaging in – and raising awareness about – the Emmaus movement among students of all ages! Many groups do, in fact, work with primary schools, secondary schools, sixth-form colleges and universities on a regular or ad hoc basis. Identified at the 2024 Forum of Alternatives as a key driver for promoting solidarity-based reuse, raising awareness is now a fully-fledged activity within the movement.

To move towards this goal, we decided to document the practices of several experienced European groups working in this field through videos and a best-practice guide. We set off at the end of 2025 for Spain, France and Italy, where we were welcomed by five different groups. 

In Spain: Large-scale institutional partnerships

Groups in the north of the country have developed a very structured awareness-raising programme, building on partnerships with public authorities and educational institutions. Every year, in Pamplona, Bilbao and San Sebastián, up to 3,500 students learn about the work of the Emmaus groups and the issues surrounding overconsumption and reuse through educational visits organised by the Emmaus groups.   

In France: Reaching out to students and welcoming them

Much like in Spain, some French groups choose to devote a significant part of their activities to outreach work in schools. This is the case with Emmaus Mundo, which visits schools around the city of Strasbourg and welcomes visits from schools. Every year, nearly 2,000 students take part in sessions involving games and discussions about solidarity, the environment and the fight against discrimination. Emmaus France has also developed the games and educational resources created by this group to make them available to other Emmaus groups!

On the cusp of civic and citizenship education in Italy…

In Italy, a member of staff from the federation works with school classes throughout the year, encouraging them to reflect on overconsumption, peace and social justice. Every year, hundreds of students – from primary school to university – take part in a comprehensive programme designed to raise awareness about Emmaus’ causes.

An overall positive assessment

These visits and talks are always enjoyable experiences that leave students feeling enthusiastic and engaged. For most of them, it is their first introduction to the Emmaus movement and its community-based reuse initiatives. For the groups, it is an opportunity to plant a seed in the minds of these future citizens, with a view to creating a fairer and more caring society. One Spanish teacher recounts: “This visit has helped them become more aware of consumer society”.

Would you like to join this initiative? Find out about the groups’ activities and read testimonials from students and teachers in our outreach guide, explore our dedicated playlist, and share your own initiatives with us!