On 3rd September 2025, from 09:30 to 17:00, a Citizens’ Engagement Activity titled European Youth acting for a Sustainable Black Sea took place at the Flora Expo Center in Burgas, Bulgaria. The event was organised by IVY volunteer Arthur Fertier, Project partner of the Interreg BSB project SturNet.

The aim of the event was to empower young people from Burgas and its surroundings to better understand the European Cohesion Policy and its role in protecting the Black Sea environment and biodiversity. The participants, aged 13 to 17, included youth from diverse backgrounds, eager to know more about environmental protection and European cooperation.

The programme offered a wide variety of interactive and creative activities. Mihail Nenov, Deputy Mayor of Burgas in charge of education, health, social activities, and youth policies, attended the opening to greet the participants and wish them a successful event. After the initial icebreaker session, participants listened to a presentation of the Cohesion Policy, engaged in a live Mentimeter quiz on the Black Sea ecosystem and Cohesion Policy, followed by a short presentation of the SturNet project. The morning continued with educational games such as Find the Right Term, a group activity where participants matched environmental terms with their correct definitions, and Discover the Black Sea, a map-based game requiring participants to place marine species in their correct locations. Both activities encouraged participants to learn about biodiversity and marine challenges in an engaging way.

In the afternoon, participants took part in a sustainability-themed Escape Game, where they solved enigmas related to marine protection and sustainable development. The day concluded with an Eco-Art session, during which young people created sculptures and collages from recycled materials, highlighting the importance of circularity and local action in tackling global environmental challenges.

Throughout the day, the event showcased the role of youth in shaping the future of the region, not only by acquiring knowledge but also by actively contributing with their ideas, creativity, and teamwork. The activity closed with the distribution of certificates and the presentation of the artworks created during the Eco-Art session, highlighting the participants’ engagement in building a sustainable future for the Black Sea.