YOUNG VOICES FOR LAKES! 

From November 5-12, 36 young people from Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, North Macedonia, France, and Türkiye organized activities as part of the project titled “KEEP THE LAKE, BEFORE IT IS TO LATE!”

Eğirdir Lake, Turkey’s second-largest freshwater lake, is not only a natural drinking water basin but also an internationally significant wetland due to its biological diversity. While there are 514 different bird species in Europe and 454 in Turkey, 225 of the bird species found in Turkey inhabit Eğirdir Lake and its surroundings.

This youth project aimed to draw international attention to the problems of Eğirdir Lake and potential solutions. Throughout the week, participants engaged in workshops where they learned about ecology and ecological issues in depth. They also acquired new knowledge and skills to adopt a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

On November 10, the young participants visited Eğirdir district and Eğirdir Lake as part of non-formal learning activities focused on environmental protection. They explored the district’s historical and touristic sites and carried out a clean-up activity along the shores of Eğirdir Lake, raising awareness about the importance of preserving the lake’s future.

One of the most significant activities of the project took place at the Eğirdir Municipality Meeting Hall. Here, participants listened to presentations about the municipality’s efforts to protect the lake and its surroundings. They also learned about the Eğirdir Lake Protection Action Plan, which is jointly carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and Eğirdir Municipality. Additionally, the municipality shared its future plans for the preservation of Eğirdir Lake in great detail. The young participants later provided suggestions and feedback on what can be done to protect the lake further.

During the project, participants also organized cultural nights, where they introduced their own cultures and shared information about the state and challenges of lakes in their respective countries.

At the end of the project, a booklet was published, featuring information on current issues affecting lakes, policies implemented for lake conservation, and international agreements related to lake protection. You can access the booklet through the following link and review the project outcomes:

https://drive.google.com/…/1MPPfIskE9v894JfBVj4…/view…

You can follow project updates and posts on this account:

https://www.instagram.com/lakeprotectorsofanatolia/

Together, we stand for water. We stand for nature. We stand for the future.

#KeepTheLake #LakeEğirdir #eno_greece #ErasmusPlus #YouthForEnvironment #SustainabilityStartsNow #LakeProtectorsOfAnatolia #EcoYouth #TogetherForNature #ActNowForLakes #EnvironmentalAwareness #YouthExchange2025 #GreenGeneration