Are you between 16 and 30 years old and connected to the Black Sea region? Do you organise conservation activities with children, other young people or a local community? Or maybe you have a project in mind to raise awareness of marine litter or to use marine resources in the Black Sea sustainably? Or something completely different that you think has the potential to change things in the area?
Then we are looking for you!
The #Youth4Ocean Forum is launching a new call for project proposals, designed to promote the ideas of young change-makers in the Black Sea Region! All across the Black Sea Region, we are looking for young people that either are or would like to develop an ocean-related project and that are keen to become ‘Young Ocean Advocates’ for the Black Sea.
What do you get out of it?
As a Black Sea Young Ocean Advocate, you will have access to exclusive benefits and resources to make a positive change for the Ocean:
• Your project and personal profile will be showcased in the Youth4Ocean Forum section on the Maritime Forum website of the European Commission, and promoted on social media by the EU4Ocean Coalition;
• You will get support and guidance from members of the EU4Ocean Coalition, to help you carry out your activities;
• You will have access to the coaching/mentoring programme of the EU4Ocean Coalition to develop your project and skills;
• You will be invited to participate in the EU4Ocean sea basin events on an equal footing with the EU4Ocean Coalition other members and get the chance to pitch your project and ideas in front of a broad audience;
• You will be able to attend events and network with leading experts, likeminded young people and professionals from all over Europe.
• You will get access to tools and networks to promote ocean literacy in Europe.
• You will be able to participate in EU4Ocean Coalition discussion groups on topics: Food from the Ocean, Climate & Ocean, Healthy & Clean Ocean;
• And last but not least, you will have the possibility to participate in the EU4Ocean final event (to be held in one the EU Member States in 2022), and to win an award for your project.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for all kinds of projects or project ideas that take place in the Black Sea region or that are somehow linked to the region. You can find more information in the Guidelines which include a handy FAQ section.
You should be:
• 16–30-years-old
• From the Black Sea region / or have a project (idea) focusing on the Black Sea region
Your project of idea should be:
• Relevant to Food from the Ocean; Ocean and Climate; Healthy and Clean Ocean
• Relevant to the ocean: focusing on marine education; conservation; research, performing or visual arts; Blue Economy and entrepreneurship; fisheries and aquaculture; maritime transport; coastal tourism; sports; etc.
• bringing a solution to a marine and/or social challenge, promoting sustainable development, community engagement, good practice and behaviour; etc.
All kinds of ideas to create the Black Sea we want are welcome and there’s no limit to imagination!
Will we see you online on the 5th of November for our Black Sea basin event?
Supported by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission, the #Youth4Ocean, the #EU4Ocean Platform and the #EUBlueSchools network are organizing the first Black Sea Ocean Literacy Event taking place on the 29th, 31st October and on the 5th of November 2021 online. If you are selected, this will be the first opportunity to pitch your project in frond of experts of the European Commission and the entire EU4Ocean Coalition.
The event will discuss ongoing ocean literacy activities of the EU4Ocean Coalition and its communities in the Black Sea, with a specific focus on marine litter. It will give specific space to the interactions between Black Sea experts, Young Ocean Advocates and Black Sea youth ambassadors, and to discuss on how to bring marine science of the Black Sea into the classrooms.
Kick off high level opening session on the 29th October, the Black Sea Action Day with the Ocean Literacy Festival on 31st October, to the online panel discussions and workshops Let's Make the Black Sea Blue! on how to move forward concrete initiatives in the Black Sea (in particular in the topics of marine litter and citizen science) in front of marine experts, policy makers, other young people, marine science educators, and the general public, and participate in the #MakeEUBlue campaign by making your own pledge to keep the Black Sea Blue!
Now what?
Brainstorm and submit your application until the 1st November 2021!
Your project is not related to the Black Sea region?
You can still submit it and if it is approved there will be many other occasions to present it!