In addition to traditional use of media and below the line, Union Contacted invented a new method of communicating sensitive environmental and social issues 20 years ago working with the most receptive members of society: school aged children and young adults.
The issues vary. The mechanism is the same. It is a combination of an awareness campaign on a given topic, promotion and a national or pan-Europan competition.
Educational material is provided to schools in the form of  scrupulously documented brochures that serve as a basis for discussion in the classroom. Promoters visit to reinforce the information and present the outlines of the competition. This phase is followed by a nationwide competition (in some cases open to European countries).
A preselection is made of 10/12 schools  who are invited to spend a week in a workshop/conference/festival environment in Italy. Between 400-600 students and teachers attend. At the end of the week the final winners are selected by a jury of experts and by the students themselves. Each year the events are enhanced and broadened and now reach 16 member countries in the European Union.

For 16 years this innovative formula, a creation and trademark of Union Contact, has been implemented by several Ministries earning the the appreciation and enthusiasm of tens of thousands of students, teachers and administrators.