Discovering the Value of Nature: A Strong Start to Environmental Awareness

The Erasmus+ KA152 Youth Exchange project 2025-3-LV02-KA152-YOU-000368450, coordinated by Black Wood Environmental Biedrība, officially kicked off in Riga, Latvia. Bringing together partners from Türkiye, Greece, Hungary, and Italy—İsrafla Mücadele Platformu, Intercultural Institute of Lefkada, Debreceni Sport és Kulturális Központ, and Community of Natural Life—the project aims to raise environmental awareness among young people, strengthen their connection with nature, and empower them to become active advocates for sustainable living.

On the first day of the project, participants focused on exploring the often unseen yet essential benefits that healthy ecosystems provide to human life. During the “Nature's Priceless Gifts” activity, young people examined ecosystem services such as clean water, clean air, food production, and climate regulation while discussing the threats these invaluable natural resources face today.

Later in the day, participants took part in the “Design for Awareness” workshop, where they created visual materials aimed at promoting environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. Through this activity, they learned how to communicate environmental messages effectively while also contributing to the dissemination materials that will be used throughout the project.

The activities carried out on the first day provided participants with a stronger understanding of environmental challenges and established a common foundation of knowledge for the days ahead. As a result, the young participants took their first steps toward becoming more informed, engaged, and active contributors to a sustainable future.