From Knowledge to Change: A Four-Month Journey
Since its launch five years ago, Fair Future Generators (FFG) — a programme of Milieudefensie, the Dutch branch of Friends of the Earth — has engaged approximately 400 young volunteers between the ages of 18 and 30 in a four-month training and practical action programme on climate and sustainability. With 50 to 60 participants per cohort, the programme has become one of the most effective models in the Netherlands for turning climate-concerned young people into effective changemakers.
Milieudefensie was founded in 1971 and works to build a strong movement of people committed to a sustainable and fair Netherlands. FFG is the organisation’s investment in the next generation of that movement.
How the Programme Works
Each cohort begins with a three-day residential training — an intensive immersion in which participants get to know each other, exchange knowledge, and develop both the substantive understanding and the practical skills needed for the project work ahead. This opening period is deliberately relational: building trust and group cohesion before diving into action.
Over the following months, participants work on real projects within environmental organisations — placements that open doors that are normally closed to students and interns. Two types of support accompany them: a content supervisor within the host organisation, and an FFG coach who guides participants through the personal and collaborative dimensions of the experience. The coaching philosophy is explicitly empowering: working from each individual’s strengths and pace rather than imposing a standardised framework.
Ownership as the Core Principle
What distinguishes FFG from conventional internship programmes is the emphasis on ownership. Participants are not simply asked to execute tasks: they are expected to take responsibility for their projects, navigate uncertainty, and reflect on what they learn from both their successes and their mistakes. Online and in-person meeting formats have been refined over the years to maximise this dimension — the programme has become stricter about attendance expectations, having observed that participants who show up consistently gain significantly more from the experience.
Relevance for Sustainable Learning
FFG connects to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). It is a strong model for combining practice-oriented learning with personalised coaching in a climate action context.
Website: milieudefensie.nl/ffg
Contact: Hylke Grasmeijer – hylke.grasmeijer@milieudefensie.nl
