On 17 June 2025, the Green YOUth Changemakers project concluded its cycle of international activities with a strategic meeting in Karlovo, Bulgaria.

Young participants presented the outcomes of the project as well the policy recommendations they created to the Department of Ecology, Waste Management, Natural Resources and Forests, in the presence of Mr. Rustem Murad, Deputy Mayor of Karlovo, and Mrs. Petya Naydenova, Head of the Department of Youth, Sport, Tourism, Health and Religious Affairs.

During the meeting, youth highlighted:

• good practices learned from Romanian partners at Asociația Mod of Life,
• insights from the June 2025 Brussels study visit and the meetings with Members of the European Parliament,
• local eco-initiatives already implemented by their groups.

The discussions underlined the importance of cooperation between youth and institutions. Participants expressed their readiness to support the department’s activities and to organise future joint eco-actions such as tree planting, urban beautification, and clean-up campaigns.

Young people also reported environmental issues they had observed in Karlovo, which were officially recorded by the Ecology Department for further verification and follow-up.

Finally, inspired by European practices observed during the Brussels visit, the youth proposed the installation of public drinking water stations in key areas of Karlovo. This initiative would help reduce plastic waste and encourage healthier habits, especially in the summer months.

This meeting demonstrated that the project’s legacy goes beyond workshops and mobilities: it lies in the civic maturity of young people who are ready to take responsibility and contribute to shaping greener, healthier communities.