The Youth4Ocean Forum is calling all young people in the Mediterranean Sea area!

Does your heart beat for the Mediterranean Sea? Are you between 16 and 30 years old and passionate about the ocean or ocean education? Do you organise awareness-raising activities? Perhaps you have ideas or a project in mind in relation to food from the ocean, climate and ocean, a healthy ocean or how to use marine resources in the Mediterranean Sea sustainably? Or maybe you are using one of the 7 arts (Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, Literature, Music, Performing and Film) to appeal to emotions and encourage the preservation of the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea?

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 Mediterranean Sea Region! All across the Mediterranean, we are looking for young people that either are or would like to develop an ocean-related project and that are keen to let their voice be heard as a "Young Ocean Advocate".  

The countdown starts for the Mediterranean Sea basin event, which is tentatively scheduled on the 24th & 25th of September 2021

Supported by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission, the #Youth4Ocean and the #EU4Ocean Coalition are organising a Mediterranean Sea basin event to bring Ocean Literacy to everybody’s mind and actions. Taking place around the Mediterranean Coast Day (September 25th, 2021), the event will combine a series of virtual and physical activities. While many activities or initiatives will be virtual, at least one physical activity per Mediterranean country will be organised during these two days, with youth activities being anchored in Malta.

Join the wave, become a Young Ocean Advocate

As a Mediterranean 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 get access to tools and networks to promote ocean literacy in Europe including the Mediterranean Ocean Literacy Coalition which is currently being established!
• You will have access to the coaching/mentoring programme of the EU4Ocean Coalition to develop your project and skills;
• You will be able to attend other events and to network with leading experts and professionals from all over Europe.

In addition to the many benefits listed above, a successful application to become a Mediterranean Young Ocean Advocate will also give you a chance - if the situation allows it - to pitch your project at the #EU4OceanMediterranean Ocean Literacy Event that is being organised on the 24th and 25th of August 2021 in Malta. We will select one pitcher per country, who will get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present their project to real ocean professionals. The selected Young Ocean Advocates will be invited to participate in the two-day Youth4Med forum organised during the Mediterranean Sea basin event, where they will collectively work on-site alongside like-minded young people and develop a manifesto for "Making the Med Blue"!
The winner of the pitch will have the chance to present the winning project at the final event of #EU4Ocean Coalition, in 2021/2022, and receive extra mentoring to bring the project to the next level.

What are we looking for and how to get on board?

We are looking for all kinds of projects or project ideas that can make a positive change for the Mediterranean Sea and increase ocean literacy in the region. You can find all you need to know and more in the guidelines and the FAQ section:   

• Projects (and project ideas) 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.
• Projects (and project ideas) bringing a solution to a marine and/or social challenge, promoting sustainable development, community engagement, good practice and behaviour; etc.

There is really no limit set to your imagination, get creative!

Brainstorm and submit your application until September 15, 2021.

Keep your fingers crossed and hopefully see you at the Mediterranean Sea basin event!

APPLY HERE NOW!

Your project is not related to the Mediterranean Sea?

You can still submit it and if it is approved there will be many other occasions to present it!