“Inter-State Rivers, Seas Plastic Cleanup, Stable Balkan”
The initiative is focused on the involvement of youth from 5 WB states in cleaning interstate rivers connecting the states to reduce pollution and preserve rivers ecosystems in the entire Balkans. This initiative befriended youth through cultural, sportive, educational activities on behalf of plastic removal and linked different cultures. Boat sailings, touristic activities, pilgrimages with university students combined with cleanup actions sensitized and turned them into WB 0 waste ambassadors.
Cross-border/international
Albania
Kosovo
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Serbia
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: North Macedonia
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Montenegro
North Macedonia
Montenegro
Albania
Kosovo
Serbia
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
2020-04-25
As an individual
First name: Klea Last name: Korro Gender: Female Nationality: Albania If relevant, please select your other nationality: Albania Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Rruga Ferit Xhajko, P.67/1, Shk.2, Ap.20 Town: Tirana Postal code: 1000 Country: Albania Direct Tel:+355692569918 E-mail:kleakorro@gmail.com Website:https://www.facebook.com/fondacioni.royalalbania
The initiative “Inter-State Rivers, Seas Plastic Cleanup , Stable Balkan” is one of the regional initiatives in West Balkan that encouraged youth of 5 states together with Universities of Western Balkans to realize several cultural, sporting , artistic and environmental friendly activities, as well as an alliance for rivers cleanup- waste spilling in both Adriatic and Ionian Sea. Through intensification of cultural, sporting and artistic activities, we integrated plastic waste recycling activities from the rivers of Drini i Zi and Drini i Bardhe, deriving from Serbia, flowing in Kosovo, Albania and a branch of the Drin and the northern part of Macedonia. The movement of youth in all Universities for cleaning plastic waste extended Shkumbin Rivers (Macedonia and Albania). Another Inter-State river flowing through Montenegro and Albania spilling in the Adriatic Sea is Bojana River. This river supplies one of the eldest lakes of Europe, Skodra Lake. Its plastic waste is quite big (mostly because of Buna River, spilling into the Adriatic Sea) and was included in the project. This movement is unique in the Balkans because it involved youth of 5 different states for plastic removal and community awareness, in order to have a clean Adriatic/Ionian Sea and preserve rivers ecosystems. The creation of a youth Alliance for cleaning plastic waste in West Balkan from the students in universities and high schools was another goal. The creation of a website with the name of this initiative as a platform to befriend and connect the youth from 5 states and at the same time, coordinate different activities for plastic removal in main inter-state rivers made the project a newness in the Balkans in terms of raising awareness and encouraging new generations to participate and give their contribution to waste management projects.
plastic cleanup
youth involvement
marine litter in rivers and seas
ecosystem preservation
regional cooperation
1. The creation of a regional alliance with students and universities in the Western Balkans to reduce plastic pollution in rivers , connecting all the WB. This objective was met in terms of sustainability as it tackled the issue of waste that is polluting both the Adriatic and Ionian Sea , deriving from rivers ending up into the seas. A high number of species such as threatened fish and molluscs live in WB waters , so cleanup actions are necessary to preserve them and make sure they do not get extinct by ingesting plastics such as straws, masks , or get stuck into plastic bottles. This objective made sure WB states have their first youth alliance , contributing to minimising pollution by activating youth in collecting plastics. Workshops with students , trainings were provided as well as a headship per each university was selected to lead the alliance and run different cleanup activities.
2. The selection of a special day for the protection of inter-state rivers from plastic waste each month is another key objective in order to remind young generation and community in general of the problem of pollution. This objective was realized by announcing a day each month, approved by law by the local power, in which youth organize cleanup actions, meet environmental experts, discuss about plastic separation, sensitize their other peers.
1. Promotion of values of rivers of West Balkans through youth engagement in cultural, touristic and artistic manners . This was realized via the improvisation of photo exhibitions with photos taken from rivers with the main focus on plastic pollution. To encourage youngsters a special prize was awarded to the best photo in order for them to feel fulfilled and happy to affect the situation of plastic pollution. Boat sailings with students in order to familiarize them with the cause of plastic waste and with the best sea sights of WB , in order to raise awareness on keeping these sea sights clean from plastic pollution was another way how this objective was reached. Furthermore, pilgrimages in different religious places near the rivers and seas with the main focus on plastic waste cleanup, was a cultural aspect bringing people together adding value to the project. Lastly, realization of sporting activities for students so that they could make new friends and participate in cleanup actions combined with artistic events such as "from plast to art" to use the collected plastics and turn it into artistic pieces brought positive emotions to youth involved and their workshops and campaigns promoted zero waste tourism in Albania throughout the project.
1. The involvement of 5 WB states and municipalities to create common action plans and strategies to reduce plastic waste. Students governments also contributed to the action plans and together with students governments an alliance was funded by young people in plastic reduction in WB.
2. Touristic agencies contribution to promote river beauties into their posters in order to attract different types of groups such as tourists, communities and stakeholders.
The first to be directly impacted by our initiative are the Governments of 5 West Balkan states involved in the initiative, because they profited from student’s help in the cleanup plastic process of the rivers connecting the states with one another. Secondly, both seas, Adriatic and Ionian Sea profited by offering a cleaner biodiversity and resulting in great profits from tourists.Thirdly, local communities of every state involved in the project benefited from the project, because the
natural resources of the rivers were protected. At the meantime, more tourists visited the rivers and this resulted to less poverty for the community and more revenues.Last but not least, young students from 5 different states profited indirectly reducing cultural, nationalist and religious differences. Through the organization of several activities from all these fields mentioned previously combined with the actions undertaken for plastic waste cleanup, they
also added value to the cause.
The main stakeholders were:
-Communities near the rivers of White Drino, Black Drino, Bojana River, Shkumbin River, Vjosa River and youth living aside these rivers. They testified cleaner waters during the touristic season and at the same time a reduction in terms of pollution in rivers. Some of them attended our team of youth in cleanup actions and even volunteered to spread out some of the leaflets and become part of the sensitizing campaigns.
-Environmental institutions of Albania such as the Ministry of Enviornment and Directories linked with the environment found in these Municipalities . Their engagement was via the help and assistance given in the preparation of action plans and strategies via their experts with all data on rivers, pollution level and ecosystem.
-Tourists visiting the areas, testifying cleaner rivers after the activities joined some of the workshops organized by youth in WB states and shared photos of the project in their social medias with their peers across the borders to promote the good work
-Holidaymakers in Adriatic and Ionian Sea after a great amoung of plastics was reduced . They promoted the project's logo in their posters and tickets in all tours throughout Albania. The goal was to sensitize and encourage as many young people to join.
-The governments of these states because several alliances among young people were created, such as student governments
- Government representatives interacted with youth team in order to provide expertise to the project related to waste management. They assisted with a team of their experts to prepare action plans and strategies together with youth, community representatives, regarding rivers of WB.
-Local communities added value to this project with their contribution to plastic collection and separation
-Media assisted young people in this project by promoting our work , inviting part of the team to speak and raise awareness in different televisions and interacted with us with different articles marketing
-University lecturers gave their contribution by providing data on rivers of West Balkans regarding level of pollution and their assistance in workshops held with different youth groups. Some of the universities even offered their own halls rent free.
1. The 5 WB Universities became part of our initiative.
2. Young people in 5 states were engaged to participate more in river cleanup activities and made aware of the
environment.
3. According to the statistical data of 5 WB states, we have now a reduction of over 40% of
plastic waste in our rivers.
4.According to the Tourism Union, we have a reduction of over 22% of pollution in touristic places in WB.
5. On July 1 st , in all rivers of Albania, but also in some Balkan countries, there were awareness and cleaning activities for plastic waste
6. From the surveys conducted, over 305 young people in activities, undertook local initiatives in their municipalities to collect plastic on the banks of rivers and became active on social networks for our initiative.
The initiative was innovative because it was the first one in the Balkans engaging 5 Universities in different states for the common goal of the reduction of plastic waste. It addresses a great challenge of the region, the challenge of inter-state river cleanup connecting 5 of the West Balkan states with one another. It synchronizes a regional initiative of the students from Universities of each state.
-The Initiative makes an effort to synchronize a student involvement of 5 states in order to increase the participation of the people (adding here local communities) for the process of plastic river cleanup.
-The initiative aims to protect mutual resources of the region from plastic waste (such as rivers), by affecting the protection of biodiversity in these rivers. This thing is prone to increase tourism more in the touristic areas.
-The Initiative affects the cleanup of Adriatic Sea from plastic waste. Tons of plastic waste will be removed and eliminated by our project.
-The Initiative eases the difference existing among the states of West Balkan and befriends youth with each other. At the same time, it protects natural resources from plastic waste by combining cleanup actions with cultural, artistic and sporting activities.
-The Initiative raises community and local power awareness for plastic reduction. All these organs work together for the cleanup of rivers.
The main methodology used in the project was combination of sporting, cultural and artistic activities with plastic cleanup actions to encourage young generation to participate and feel something for the environment in which they are living, such as seas, rivers, polluted from waste and make a change into their communities. Other methods used are : During the implementation of the project, direct communication methodology between young people and student
groups, via social medias, television shows , written medias, promotions to reach a wider audience and local institutions. Meetings and workshops with local NGOs have been another methodology used in the project, gathering data, exchanging opinions and taking advises with them .
-We can say that our initiative remains active even though it is closed on a calendar basis. We say that it is active, as a coalition of young people has been created in the WB who are working even after the conclusion of the activities of the initiative. They have created a friendly and environmentally and friendly relations in protecting rivers from plastic pollution. A similiar thing can be replicated to other European states and spread to a wider range of communities.
-The presence of a single page on the website for the initiative will create the opportunity of being in touch with and updating contacts even through post-initiative information and cooperation. A website linking youth among WB states serves as a space to identify plastic hotpoints and organize cleanup actions. The website can feature more states, involving also the entire balkans.
-Accepting a date of annual activities (July 1 st ) that will be called The Day for cleaning rivers from plastics will create the possibility of safe continuation of the initiative and it is advised to be transferred monthly.
-Connections between local NGOs with RAF staff and student youth groups will be another guarantee of the continuation of the initiative. We can say that our initiative is and will remain active, thanks to the network created, through the widest coalition created in the WB
1. The global challenge of plastic pollution by involving community actions and different activities
2. Local solutions such as boat sailings to promote tourism, pilgrimages in religious sites and turning plastic into art together with plastic collection in river basins
as well sportive matches among West Balkan universities with the theme of zero pollution, were some solutions to tackle the challenge.
