The National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) has successfully completed the project “EcoYOU: Clean and Green Minds for Environmental Friendly Behavior”, which was implemented with the involvement of four partner organizations from three countries in the Black Sea Basin: Moldova, Romania, and Georgia. The project involved the “PRO NATURA Association”, Galați, Romania; the non-governmental organization “Mare Nostrum”, Constanța, Romania; and NALAG.
Within the framework of the EcoYOU project, NALAG actively promoted the raising of environmental awareness, increasing youth engagement, and strengthening cross-border cooperation. One of the important directions of the project was capacity-building sessions and awareness-raising activities.
Under the organization of NALAG, trainings and seminars were held with the participation of 96 employees from local public institutions in the Shida Kartli and Kvemo Kartli regions, which significantly strengthened their skills in dealing with environmental challenges. Additionally, 5 awareness-raising seminars were conducted in Gori, Kaspi, Dusheti, and Khashuri, where a total of 172 young people participated. Within the project framework, a youth camp was also organized, in which more than 120 young people engaged in environmental activities.
A significant part of the project was dedicated to environmental patrolling and cleanup events. NALAG implemented 20 environmental patrolling activities on land and water in three pilot regions: Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, and Mtskheta-Mtianeti where pollution from plastic and household waste was recorded. In local cleanup actions held in Gori Municipality and adjacent protected areas, more than 100 people participated. The collected data was uploaded to the BeECO application, which ensures systematic monitoring and assists local authorities in effectively managing pollution.
Within the EcoYOU project, special attention was paid to cross-border cooperation and the sharing of experience and knowledge. NALAG participated in numerous international events in Moldova (Cahul) and Romania (Galați, Constanța), including youth camps, round-table discussions, and cleanup campaigns. These activities contributed to the development of eco-friendly leadership, the exchange of best practices, and the strengthening of regional cooperation. Furthermore, the contributions made within the project to joint research and the Blue Map portal ensured the development of evidence-based recommendations for environmental management and data-driven information tools.
The project’s goal was to increase the level of involvement of communities and local government bodies in environmental protection activities, particularly in the direction of reducing microplastic quantities along rivers, lakes, and sea coasts.
The EcoYOU project envisioned transnational cooperation among environmental non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, public officials, and youth groups. The main task of the project was to effectively address pollution problems through the use of shared resources and the sharing of experiences.