From BBF ECOGUARDIANS – AFTER the first Youth Exchange in Italy
In early June, young people from Bulgaria, France, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, and Finland to participated in an international exchange in Paestum, Italy. Over 30 young people from across Europe gathered to share their personal experiences in nature conservation and how youth worldwide are changing the environments in which they live. Â
But letâs start from the beginning, because every journey has one. While most participants arrived in Paestum by plane, one group decided to make their trip memorable. Our friends from France chose a sailboat instead of a flight and spent seven days traveling across the Mediterranean Sea to reach Southern Italy. Not only did they minimize their carbon footprint, but along the way, the young people observed all kinds of marine inhabitants-from turtles and dolphins to sharks and whales. The French group used the journey to tell the story of the fragile ecosystem in the Mediterranean Sea and draw attention to the problems threatening it. We are looking forward to their film, after the end of their journey!Â
After getting acquainted, the young people shared what problems exist in their respective countries-from pollution and waste to habitat loss and ecosystem destruction. Participants from all countries spoke about the initiatives they had launched so far within the EcoGuardians project and had the opportunity to further develop them during the exchange. So stay tuned to see their local plans developed in your region soon. Â
Besides intensive thinking, developing, and presenting, the young people managed to visit and learn about local initiatives in the Paestum area. We found out that, just like in other countries, coastal dunes in Italy are particularly valuable habitats that need protection and care. We visited a protected sandy strip cared for by a local organization for years with the help of volunteers-to fence off and clean the dunes, create educational materials so that more locals and tourists can treat this fragile ecosystem responsibly. And the truth is, that was also the most beautiful part of the beach. Their centre featured artistic installations made from âgiftsâ found by the sea. Â
Beyond the shore, we also got closer to the water, where one of the local marine biologists told us about activities to protect sea turtles in the area. This battle begins with the dark nights in June when turtles start looking for places on the beaches to lay their next generation. Although turtles bury their nests deep, they are often threatened by human activity, so every morning in June, volunteers patrol the beaches searching for tracks and identifying turtle nests. Then long-term care begins. First, the nest is fenced off so it wonât be blocked by sunbeds, umbrellas, and the like, and a few months later, when hatching time comes, volunteers and experts are there again-monitoring and protecting the path of the baby turtles to the sea. Â
The young people were able to participate in all these wonderful activities thanks to the EcoGuardians project, implemented under the Erasmus+ program in partnership with organizations from five other European countries. The aim of the project is to empower young people to be the active voices of nature, and thus, through exchanges, non-formal education, and support for youth initiatives, we manage to give young people the chance to change the environment around them.
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