ExChange 2025 “Waves” is a youth exchange involving 24 participants from Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Greece. The project aims to deeply examine the responsibility each individual holds regarding anthropogenic marine pollution, understanding humanity’s role in the decline of marine biodiversity, including both plant and animal species. Through interactive activities, workshops, and guided discussions, participants will explore the main human-caused sources of pollution such as plastics, chemicals, and climate change, connecting these causes to their observed impacts on the health of marine ecosystems. The project also emphasizes the importance of direct contact with the sea as a fundamental basis for developing a genuine environmental awareness. Participants will engage in field experiences designed to foster both an emotional and intellectual connection with the marine environment, recognizing how this bond encourages more conscious, protective choices toward the sea. The project will also address the challenges faced by inland residents in developing such a sensitivity toward the marine world. Finally, through co-design workshops, young people will develop concrete strategies and proposals to protect marine ecosystems by promoting sustainable practices and responsible behaviors within their communities. The project will explore actions starting at the individual level and expanding socially and politically, aiming to build a network of young activists capable of raising awareness and mobilizing civil society for a healthier and more resilient marine future.

Participants will engage in the renaturation of a former peatland, build and install nesting boxes for birds and bats, and explore methods of sustainable land use, such as composting. Through interactive learning and teamwork, they will gain skills in habitat restoration and environmental advocacy while building connections across cultures.