Green Transition Fund, Year 4: Sustainability at the heart of our work

There we have it – the Emmaus Europe Green Transition Fund (GTF) celebrated its fourth anniversary in April 2026! Set up in 2022 with an initial budget of €200,000, the GTF has already supported twelve projects submitted by nine Emmaus groups in Eastern Europe. Emmaus groups can contribute to this fund to improve the support provided to companions.

A total of €230,000 has already been invested to help these groups reduce their energy costs. In terms of funding, Emmaus Europe has received €32,000 from Emmaus groups over the past four years: three donations from Emmaus communities, and a donation of €22,000 from the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, raised through their solidarity sales.

The impact of the investments made is truly tangible! Here are a few examples:

• In Satu Mare (Romania), thanks to insulation and solar panels, the group saved over €2,000 in 2024. The insulation reduced gas consumption by 20%, whilst the panels covered nearly 95% of the shop’s electricity consumption. 
• In Lublin (Poland), the insulation of the community centre led to a 30% reduction in energy consumption between 2023 and 2024. 
• In Krakow (Poland), the Brat Albert community saved nearly €1,500 in 2024 thanks to the electricity generated by the solar panels it had installed. 
• In Bosnia and Herzegovina, ISF–Emmaus has reduced energy costs at its rehabilitation centre in Duje by €3,000 a year. The centre supports around 450 people in highly vulnerable situations (both mentally and physically). 

Over the past four years, two types of projects have emerged, reflecting our groups’ need to reduce energy costs and achieve a certain degree of energy independence.  

• Nine projects focused on the installation of solar panels as the main investment. Three of these also included the insulation of one of the group’s buildings (a shop or community centre). 
• A project in Lublin has resulted in the complete insulation of one of the community homes. 

In the future, projects will focus on insulating community buildings to combat energy loss and improve living conditions for our members. The best energy is the energy we don’t use! 

If your Emmaus group would like to help improve the welcome, living and working conditions of our colleagues from Eastern Europe, whilst funding practical projects with a lasting impact on the environment, you can make a donation to Emmaus Europe marked ‘Green Transition Fund’ or ‘GTF’.

What is the Green Transition Fund? 

• A fund for Eastern European countries to help them cope with rising energy prices 
• A fund that enables these groups to invest in insulation materials or renewable energy to reduce their energy consumption 
• A fund that enables them to free up more resources to continue their social activities or launch new ones 
• A fund designed to improve the living, welcome and working conditions of the people welcomed in the groups 
• A fund that can be contributed to by Emmaus groups that have made environmental protection a priority