Overview of Doughnut Economy

Halan We Grow is a youth empowerment initiative that unites civil society organizations from the Southern Mediterranean and Europe to address pressing regional challenges, including unemployment, gender inequality, climate change, and the erosion of civic spaces.

At its core, the project champions non-formal education (NFE) as a tool to build self-confidence, social inclusion, and active citizenship, with a strong focus on reaching young women and marginalized youth in rural and underserved areas.

Rooted in gender equality, sustainability and youth participation, the project aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals — especially SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Who this handbook is for

The handbook is written for youth workers, facilitators and educators working with young people, particularly those aged 16 to 30, in non-formal education settings. Doughnut Economics can be a complex subject, so the tools are adapted to be accessible, participatory and action-oriented for diverse youth groups.

• Clarity — it translates a complex methodology into engaging, actionable content.
• Consistency — youth workers across regions follow a common approach rooted in shared values.
• Support — it gives structure, inspiration and resources to those guiding young people toward change.

The handbook is not a binding curriculum or a regulatory framework. It offers flexible learning strategies and examples to adapt to your local context, with support available from your national project coordinator or training facilitator.

Doughnut Economics is a model of the economy developed by the economist Kate Raworth. Instead of measuring success by endless growth, it asks a different question: is everyone's basic needs met, and are we staying inside the limits of the living planet?

The model is drawn as a doughnut with two rings. The inner ring is the social foundation — the minimum standards of living no one should fall below, such as water, healthcare and education. The outer ring is the ecological ceiling — the environmental limits we must not exceed, such as climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. The space between the two rings is the safe and just space where humanity can thrive.

• Regenerative: the economy restores nature rather than depleting it.
• Distributive: value and resources are shared fairly rather than concentrated.
• Systemic: social needs and ecological limits are seen as connected, not separate.

In this course you will learn how to bring that model into a room full of young people using non-formal education: physical activities, group work, role play and reflection, then a plan for using it in your own community.