Young People Leading Change: Local Eco-Initiatives in Action

Our first initiative took place on 20 March 2025, when 25 students and teachers cleaned the eco-trail “The Old Mill” near Chepelare. We removed waste, cleared fallen trees and stones, and marked an illegal landfill. This led to a second initiative on 12 April 2025, carried out together with the municipality, proving how youth action can trigger institutional response.

On 30 May 2025, we joined forces with youngsters from the local Sunday school, planting strawberries and raspberries near the village church. This intergenerational activity strengthened community bonds and showed how small green actions can create shared responsibility.

The fourth initiative, held on 15 September 2025, brought together 27 members of the Tourist Union “Sarnena Gora” to build a greenhouse structure protecting young trees. Only the metal skeleton was constructed at this stage - a deliberate adaptation of the plan to prevent winter snow damage. The full greenhouse will be completed during the European Week of the Forest in April 2026.

These initiatives empowered us and our peers to organize, communicate, and lead - helping us become visible role models for civic and environmental engagement.