Every Tuesday in July, a special event unfolds across the breathtaking archipelago near Stockholm. Young people from all over the region come together, united by a shared mission: to protect and preserve the stunning coastal landscapes by picking up trash. This inspiring initiative, supported by the European Union, highlights the importance of environmental and community involvement.
COASTBUSTERS is an EU-funded Solidarity Project and is run by ESC (European Solidarity Corps) volunteers from Fryshuset: Ksusha, Helen, Ignasi, and Danyil.
The initiative aims to tackle the growing issue of coastal pollution, which threatens the beauty and biodiversity of the islands. Each week, volunteers gather at a different location within the archipelago to clean up litter that washes up on the shores. The goal is not only to remove waste but also to raise awareness about the impact of pollution on marine life.
“We wanted to combine our interests and, of course, do something beneficial for both people and the environment. Since we are staying in Stockholm for a year, we also wanted to see more of Sweden and explore its nature,” shares Ksusha, a volunteer from Ukraine.
The day began with a brief orientation session, where volunteers received instructions and safety guidelines. The cleanup activities typically last a few hours, followed by time for refreshments, socializing, and discussing differences in our native languages. After all, we were a group of people from Ukraine, Spain, Italy, Germany, Poland, and Sweden!
Reflecting on the day, one of the participants, Asher from Italy, shared: “It’s really cool to take care of our coast and a nice way to interact with international team, here in Fryshuset. It’s a really good way to get out of the city and spend a day with nature when also doing something for the environment.”
“It was great to see the archipelago and its condition. It is quite well-kept and it was nice to see that the garbage system seems to work well here,” says Alex, one of the participants.
“The main reason is to discover Stockholm and contribute to the community. Today, we observed that there isn’t much trash! Coming from other countries, for instance Spain, where we have a lot of litter on the beaches, this is notable,” explains Helen.
This activity has been an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded peers, learn about environmental conservation, contribute to a worthy cause, and spend quality time with a group of people from different countries!
If you’re inspired to organize a similar initiative in your area, visit the European Solidarity Corps official website for guidance and resources. For more details about this activity, be sure to follow Fryshuset Youth Mobility on Instagram.
Written by Zofia Cyran, an EU volunteer at Momentum
