With the implementation of the project, we wanted to: build a higher level of environmental culture and education among students and teachers; With the implementation of the project, we aimed to: • build a higher level of environmental awareness and education among students and teachers; • achieve awareness of the problem of Black Sea pollution and its consequences on nature, society, and the climate; • contribute to raising public awareness by enabling students to become active ambassadors of environmental causes; • demonstrate the connection between "water resources – society – climate" in order to emphasize the importance of sustainable development; • develop the digital competencies of teachers and students through the use of Web 2.0 tools and the creation of educational resources; • encourage motivation for learning and the use of English for communication with project partners; • support the development of innovative thinking and key competencies among young people so that they become active and responsible citizens.
We applied for the project because the protection of the World Ocean, and in particular the Black Sea, is of key importance for the climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development. The Black Sea is one of the most polluted seas with plastic and waste, and microplastic pollution has already reached critical levels, comparable to the most polluted marine basins in the world. We realized that this problem does not concern only coastal communities but is a responsibility of society as a whole. In addition, we believe that the younger generation has the power to change people's attitudes and behaviour. Through the project, we aim to engage students in research, monitoring, and information campaigns that will raise public awareness about the pollution of the Black Sea. The needs that were met include: educational needs – students gained knowledge about the global importance of oceans, climate change, and plastic pollution; environmental needs – we raised awareness about the issue of waste and microplastics, promoting responsible behavior and environmental consciousness; social needs – we fostered an active civic attitude among young people, who are beginning to influence their peers and communities; practical needs.