Today our sustainability discussions moved from youth work into the institutional world.
We visited the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water – Smolyan (RIEW Smolyan) and learned more about environmental protection in the region.
During the previous days, we had mostly looked at sustainability from the perspective of individuals and young people.
Today we added another piece to the puzzle:
What is the role of institutions?
Environmental protection cannot depend only on whether one person recycles or chooses sustainable transport.
It also requires monitoring, regulations, expertise, public institutions and cooperation between different actors.
The visit was especially meaningful because we are in the Rhodope Mountains.
Nature is everywhere around Smolyan.
Forests, mountain ecosystems and biodiversity are not abstract subjects here.
They are directly connected with local life.
During the educational visit we had the opportunity to connect our project themes with a real institution working on environmental issues.
We also thought about the relationship between citizens and public authorities.
Institutions need public participation.
Citizens need reliable institutions.
And young people need to understand how both sides can communicate.
For the participants from Romania and Greece, the visit also created an opportunity to compare environmental approaches across countries.
Different systems may use different structures, but many challenges are shared.
Climate change does not stop at national borders.
Pollution does not ask for a passport.
Protecting biodiversity is therefore naturally connected with international cooperation.
After the visit we discussed what surprised us and how institutional learning can be integrated into youth projects.
Our conclusion was that international exchanges become much more interesting when participants do not stay isolated from the host community.
Meeting local organisations and institutions gives context to everything we discuss.
Today sustainability became a little less theoretical and much more real.
Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the competent programme authorities. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them