From the shared perspective of young participants, educators, local partners, and institutions involved, the international ECO-GUARDIANS Youth Exchange in Capaccio Paestum (Italy) represented a collective experience of learning, cooperation, and environmental commitment across Europe.
This event brought together our Ecoguradians from from Spain, Finland, Italy, Bulgaria, France, and Ukraine. All participants gathered in southern Italy from 3 to 8 June 2026 to take part in a shared youth exchange focused on environmental protection, sustainability, and European cooperation.
For the young people involved the experience was not only an educational programme, but also a collective journey. Over several months leading up to the meeting, they engaged in workshops, environmental storytelling, hackathons, and dialogue with experts and local stakeholders. From their perspective, these activities helped them gain confidence, knowledge, and practical tools to take action in their own communities.
From the perspective of the project partners and facilitators, ECO-GUARDIANS aims to strengthen youth participation in environmental decision-making, encourage dialogue between young citizens and institutions, and support the development of locally driven solutions that can generate long-term impact on fragile ecosystems.
The meeting in Paestum, hosted by ACARBIO, was also seen by local organisers as an opportunity to connect European youth with the natural and cultural heritage of the Amalfi Coast region. Partners such as the City of Oulu, the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, CPIE Bassin de Thau, and Youth Space worked together with Los AlcĂĄzares to ensure a meaningful and inclusive youth exchange experience.
From the shared viewpoint of all participants, the week became a space for exchanging realities and environmental challenges across countries: the conservation of the Mar Menor in Spain, wetland restoration in Finland, pollinator protection in Bulgaria, sustainable farming landscapes in Italy, recycling initiatives in Ukraine, and coastal biodiversity preservation in France.
The Eco-Guardians themselves also experienced environmental volunteering first-hand at the Oasi Dunale in Paestum, contributing to conservation and cleanup activities. For many, this practical involvement was one of the most impactful parts of the youth exchange, as it connected learning directly with action.
From the French groupâs perspective, the journey itself became part of the experience, sailing from SĂšte to Italy aboard a 17-metre vessel and documenting marine life such as dolphins and turtles, reinforcing the shared message of marine protection across borders.
Looking forward, all groups continue working on turning the ideas developed during the exchange into concrete nature-based solutions and local awareness campaigns. These will be implemented in each participating country, as part of the wider ECO-GUARDIANS process, leading up to the next youth exchange meeting in Los AlcĂĄzares in October.