Description (EN): The EcoYOU project aims to address the common challenge of pollution in the Black Sea Basin area by developing joint actions to raise awareness among young people about all forms of pollution. The overall objective is to develop joint actions aimed at making young people aware of all forms of pollution through awareness actions, joint camps, and educational tools in the Black Sea Basin during the implementation period of the project.
Public awareness and education regarding problems related to microplastic is identified as a common issue in the Black Sea countries and EcoYOU project is ambitious to provide opportunities for innovative and unconventional solutions. Four organizations unite their efforts in implementing a number of activities, focused on boosting the development of environmental protection in the Black Sea countries.
The project's approach involves transnational cooperation among various stakeholders, including environmental NGOs, educational institutions, local public authorities, regional public authorities, and youth groups. By working together, sharing experiences, and pooling resources, the project aims to create a more significant impact and effectively address the shared challenge of pollution in the Black Sea Basin area. Transnational cooperation will enable the exchange of best practices, diverse perspectives, and collaborative efforts, ultimately leading to a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to environmental protection.
The expected change resulting from the project is twofold. Firstly, by increasing awareness among young people about all forms of pollution, the project aims to foster a generation of environmentally conscious individuals who actively participate in protecting the environment. Secondly, by engaging local communities and public authorities in environmental protection activities ( Joint Round table events, Joint Camps, Common Clean-up events), the project seeks to achieve a measurable reduction of microplastic pollution along the banks of rivers, lakes, and the sea within the project implementation area.
The beneficiaries of the project include young people, local communities, public authorities, and the overall ecosystem of the Black Sea Basin area. Young people will gain knowledge, skills, and a sense of responsibility to contribute to environmental protection efforts. Local communities will benefit from reduced pollution levels, leading to improved environmental quality and a healthier ecosystem. Public authorities will witness increased participation and engagement from citizens, resulting in more effective environmental policies and practices. Ultimately, the project aims to contribute to the long-term sustainability and well-being of the Black Sea Basin area.
Read more Actual Achievements (EN): The EcoYOU project has made notable strides towards its objective of engaging local communities and authorities in environmental protection, with a strong focus on reducing microplastic pollution near rivers, lakes, and the sea. Through hands-on activities and awareness efforts, the project has reached key milestones, involving a wide range of community members and achieving significant outputs across partner countries.
Key Activities and Outputs:
To create an environmentally positive impact, EcoYOU has organized several joint activities. During this reporting period, three major joint clean-up events were conducted: a Common Clean-up in Cahul on September 24, a Joint Round Table on biodiversity and environmentally friendly behavior in Constanța on September 26, and another Common Clean-up in Constanța on September 27. These events involved over 240 participants, including local citizens, students, and representatives from partner organizations, who actively contributed to cleaning public areas affected by pollution. Common Launching conferences in Cahul and Constanța also helped set the stage for future activities, enhancing visibility and community engagement.
Additionally, a comprehensive training session was organized in Galați on September 25, led by PP2 and LP1, focusing on patrol techniques for monitoring pollution. Using tools like the BeECO app, participants learned to identify and report waste deposits in their regions, laying the groundwork for ongoing environmental patrols. These sessions have equipped project partners with essential skills for conducting pollution surveillance and reporting to local authorities.
Broader Community Engagement:
The project’s impact is especially strong among youth, who have been the main audience for EcoYOU’s awareness-raising efforts. Through 26 environmental seminars, the project has reached over 750 young people, educating them on issues like microplastic pollution, the circular economy, and sustainable practices. These interactive seminars foster a sense of responsibility and environmental awareness among participants, laying the foundation for sustained engagement.
Added Value of Cross-Border Cooperation:
Cross-border collaboration has been essential to EcoYOU’s success. Partners from Moldova, Romania, and Georgia have shared resources, strategies, and local insights, amplifying the project’s reach and impact. This unified approach has strengthened bonds between communities and created a collaborative framework that can serve as a model for regional environmental protection.
As the project progresses, more joint and local events, alongside environmental patrols, are expected to further increase community participation and contribute to the measurable reduction of microplastics in the target areas. Feedback from participants so far has been positive, signaling strong community support and enthusiasm for the project’s objectives.
The EcoYOU project continues to make significant progress in engaging communities and public authorities in environmental protection, with a strong focus on reducing microplastic pollution in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. During the second reporting period, project partners expanded on previous efforts, deepening their impact through targeted actions that strengthened local capacities, increased community engagement, and enhanced institutional involvement.
Key Achievements:
- Enhanced Environmental Responsibility Through Clean-Up Actions
Across Moldova, Romania, and Georgia, joint and local clean-ups mobilized hundreds of students, teachers, and residents. These activities not only removed plastic waste but also fostered a long-term culture of environmental responsibility. Continued environmental patrols further reinforced these efforts by systematically identifying pollution hotspots and engaging local authorities for sustainable impact.
- Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Environmental Action
Training sessions in all three partner countries equipped over 150 public administrators with tools to educate and mobilize communities, ensuring a lasting commitment to tackling pollution. These capacity-building initiatives enabled local authorities to integrate environmental policies into their decision-making processes effectively.
- Expansion of Environmental Patrols
Land-based and aquatic patrols identified pollution hotspots using the BeECO app. While initial efforts introduced the patrol concept, the second period saw a significant expansion, with 24 patrols (including two at sea). The acquisition of boats and kayaks will further enhance future monitoring efforts, ensuring a more comprehensive approach to pollution surveillance.
- Empowering Youth Through Education and Awareness
With 39 environmental seminars engaging over 980 young participants, the project significantly raised awareness about microplastics and sustainable practices. The BluE-Map study and youth surveys provided a data-driven approach to engagement, ensuring that educational efforts align with youth perspectives and concerns.
- Public Outreach and Digital Engagement
A podcast on municipalwaste sorting, a social media campaign reaching over 5,600 people, and various community events expanded the project’s impact, promoting long-term behavioral change. These initiatives successfully disseminated knowledge on pollution reduction and sustainability to a broader audience.
Added Value of Cross-Border Cooperation:
EcoYOU’s success is deeply rooted in the collaboration between Moldova, Romania, and Georgia. By sharing expertise, resources, and strategies, project partners have created a stronger, united front against environmental pollution. The cross-border framework not only amplified the project’s reach but also provided a replicable model for environmental protection initiatives in the Black Sea Basin and beyond.
As the project advances, further joint activities, environmental patrols, and policy engagement efforts will continue to drive measurable reductions in microplastic pollution while fostering a long-term commitment to environmental sustainability. The positive response from local communities and institutions underscores the growing support for EcoYOU’s objectives, reinforcing the project’s lasting impact.
The EcoYOU project has made strong progress toward its goal of increasing public and institutional engagement in environmental protection, with a special focus on reducing microplastic pollution in the Black Sea Basin region. The partnership has reached key milestones through impactful cross-border cooperation, youth engagement, and awareness-raising activities.
1. Cross-border Environmental Education & Engagement
- 4 Joint Youth Camps held in Georgia and Moldova brought together over 150 young people, educators, and environmental specialists. These camps used informal and creative learning (games, drawing, workshops) to build awareness and empower youth to become environmental ambassadors.
- 3 Joint Round Table Events organized in Georgia, Moldova, and Romania gathered over 110 participantsincluding local authorities, NGOs, youth, and experts. These events fostered dialogue on biodiversity, microplastic pollution, and environmentally friendly behavior.
- The “8 Hours Overtime for an Environmental Positive Impact” events in Georgia and Moldova mobilized more than 70 participants for hands-on eco-activities like litter collection, reuse workshops, and youth project ideation.
2. Clean-up Campaigns with Local and International Impact
- Common clean-up events were carried out in Romania (Brateș Lake) and Georgia (Tana & Tedzami Protected Area) with the involvement of over 90 volunteers, including project partners and residents.
- These events removed waste, raised local awareness, and highlighted the importance of active community participation.
3. Youth-Focused Educational Actions
- 13 additional awareness seminars were conducted in Romania by PP3 Mare Nostrum, involving 272 youth and 19 teachers, emphasizing microplastic pollution and sustainable behaviors.
- The Joint Study and BluE-Map, under development, collected input from over 500 youth through surveys, interviews, and focus groups in Georgia, Moldova, and Romania. The study will support youth-centered environmental education across the Black Sea Basin.
4. Environmental Patrols on Water and Land
- All four partners conducted multiple environmental patrols (both land and water-based), identifying pollution hotspots and reporting findings to local authorities. Patrols were held in:
o Moldova (Cahul District)
o Romania (Galați County)
o Georgia (Algeti, Choporti, Tbilisi Sea)
o Constanța region by Mare Nostrum
- Findings were documented with GPS, photos, and reports, improving environmental monitoring and accountability.
5. Creative Media and Public Awareness
- 3 new podcast episodes were produced under the “Green at the Microphone” series, covering topics such as:
o Environmental enforcement in Romania
o Environmental reforms in Georgia
o Social entrepreneurship for sustainability
- These podcasts reached broad audiences online, bringing environmental issues closer to the public in an accessible way.
Added Value of Cooperation
The EcoYOU project stands out for its cross-border collaboration and grassroots involvement. By combining institutional support with youth-driven action across Georgia, Moldova, and Romania, the project:
- Enhanced mutual learning between countries facing shared environmental challenges
- Fostered long-term partnerships among local authorities, NGOs, and youth organizations
- Empowered young people as active contributors to environmental protection
Through shared knowledge, co-designed activities, and community involvement, EcoYOU is building a sustainable model for regional cooperation to combat microplastic pollution and promote environmentally responsible behavior.
The EcoYOU project has reached a final phase of its implementation, successfully finalizing the majority of Work Package 1 activities. The partnership has significantly expanded its digital footprint and field monitoring capabilities, strengthening the community-led response to environmental challenges across the Black Sea Basin.
1. Cross-border Environmental Education & Engagement
- Joint Environmental Camp in Romania: Over 40 participants, including students from “Dunărea de Jos” University and high schools from Moldova and Romania, gathered in Corbu for a 3-day immersive camp. The event combined field research on coastal ecosystems with workshops on biodiversity and eco-friendly camping skills.
- “8 Hours Overtime for an Environmental Positive Impact”: This joint event held in Constanța brought together 30 representatives from NGOs, local businesses, and academia. Participants engaged in interactive "marathon" sessions to develop practical solutions for regional environmental issues.
- Stakeholder Knowledge Exchange: Partners from Romania (Pro Natura), Georgia (NALAG) and Moldova (ACTIE) participated in activities organised in Constanta, fostering a transnational dialogue on sustainable coastal and river management and youth engagement.
2. Direct Community Action & Clean-up Campaigns
- Local Mobilization in Galați: Two major clean-up events were organized by PP2 Pro Natura, involving students, teachers, and volunteers. These actions not only removed waste from local ecosystems but also served as educational platforms for discussing responsible ecological behavior.
- Institutional Engagement: Local and regional authorities but also other relevant institutions were successfully in vatious project activities. By formally reporting waste identified during patrols, the project ensured that community-led monitoring translated into official municipal action.
3. Data-Driven Tools: The BluE-Map & Joint Study
- Completion of the Joint Study: The consortium finalized a comprehensive study based on input from over 600 participants (students, parents, and teachers) across all three countries. This research provides a deep dive into youth perceptions of environmental protection.
- The BluE-Map Portal: Development of the BluE-Map interactive platform reached a milestone. Partners contributed field data, survey results, and pollution hotspots to create a dynamic educational tool that visualizes environmental health across the region.
4. Intensified Environmental Monitoring
- 36 Environmental Patrols: Partners conducted extensive monitoring missions on land and water, identifying pollution hotspots and illegal waste sites.
o Moldova: 7 patrols by boat and kayak in the Cahul District (Lower Prut region).
o Romania: 23 patrols combined (Galați and Constanța regions) along the Danube, Siret, and Prut rivers.
o Georgia: 6 patrols across key reservoirs and lakes (Tsalka, Sioni, Bazaleti).
5. Creative Media & Public Outreach
- “VERDE LA MICROFON” Podcast Series: 6 new podcast episodes were co-produced or broadcasted, featuring experts from Moldova, Georgia and Romania. Topics focused on rural environmental challenges, youth involvement in sustainability, and regional ecological reforms.
- Massive Digital Reach: Social media dissemination reached over 16,000 people, supported by press releases and dedicated news articles that kept the project visible to the general public.
Added Value of Cooperation
The fourth reporting period highlighted the power of the cross-border cooperation. By synchronizing efforts, the EcoYOU project has:
- Bridged the Gap between Research and Action: Scientific data from the Joint Study and patrols was directly integrated into the digital BluE-Map, creating a permanent resource for the region.
- Strengthened Institutional Links: The cooperation between NGOs and local/regional authorities (such as the Environmental Guard and local City Halls) has improved the accountability of environmental management.
- Empowered a Transnational Youth Network: Students and trachers from Moldova, Romania, and Georgia had the opportunity to work toguether; through joint camps and podcasts, they have formed a unified voice for the protection of the Black Sea Basin.
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