The EcoTide project aims to respond to an urgent reality that affects young people across Europe: the increasing damage caused by water pollution, inefficient waste management, and irresponsible disposal practices around rivers and seas. These problems are not isolated environmental concerns—they affect local communities, cultural heritage, education, and daily life. Our previous initiative, The Plastic Tide, clearly demonstrated that young people are not only eager but also capable of engaging with such challenges in creative and meaningful ways. Building on that foundation, The EcoTide will take a step further: empowering youth to become visible actors of change, raising awareness among peers, and initiating concrete action in their local contexts. Data from the European Environment Agency highlights that marine litter is a growing global issue, with plastics representing up to 80–85% of waste found in oceans. This problem particularly affects the younger generation, who will face its long-term consequences but who often lack the tools, opportunities, or guidance to take civic action. The EcoTide intends to bridge this gap by equipping participants with practical competences, non-formal learning experiences, and the confidence to act as multipliers in their communities. The project pursues several interrelated objectives. First, it will provide 30 young people and 6 youth leaders from Spain, Poland, Romania, Italy, Bulgaria, and Croatia with knowledge and skills in sustainability, water protection, and environmentally friendly practices, connecting their local realities to global environmental issues. Secondly, it will support them in designing youth-friendly awareness activities such as campaigns, creative workshops, and digital contents. Thirdly, it will foster intercultural dialogue by bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds( coastal, industrial, and rural) allowing them to see that environmental challenges transcend borders and demand collective solutions. Finally, the project will strengthen the capacity of partner NGOs to continue implementing green initiatives, from clean-up events to advocacy and volunteer programmes. By doing so, The EcoTide contributes directly to the objectives of the Erasmus+ programme. It empowers youth to acquire essential competences, to engage in civic life, and to feel ownership of the solutions to pressing environmental issues. Through youth-led actions—like community clean-ups and awareness campaigns in places such as Valencia, Gdynia, the Jiu basin, or Orta Nova-participants will connect learning with real-life impact. They will be encouraged to collaborate across borders, to take initiative, and to experience first-hand the value of democratic participation. All partners involved in the project are deeply committed to non-formal education and to creating learning spaces where creativity, experimentation, and problem-solving are the main drivers. For the young people involved, the project represents much more than a ten-day exchange. It is a testing ground where they can try out new roles, face challenges, and discover the strength of collective action. The EcoTide is designed as a transformative experience: while participants already have a sense of environmental responsibility, the project will give them the tools, the networks, and the inspiration to scale up their engagement. The impact will be both immediate and long-lasting, as at least 30 new agents of change will return to their communities with the skills and motivation to act—whether their contribution takes the form of small grassroots efforts or larger initiatives. Ultimately, The EcoTide captures the true spirit of Erasmus+. It is a space where young people learn by doing, learn from each other, and learn with the community. It encourages them to take initiative, to think creatively, and to see themselves as part of a European network of youth committed to building sustainable futures. The benefits of this experience will extend well beyond the life of the project itself, fostering personal growth, intercultural understanding, and a long-term commitment to protecting our shared environment.