Results of the Photo Contest - January 2019 (protect the environment)
Hugo from Portugal: I volunteerd at Tour du Valat. Tour du Valat is a Research Institute for the Conservation of Mediterranean Wetlands, located in the wild Camargue (France). One of its most iconic subjects is the research and monitoring of water birds, namely the Great Flamingo. One of my tasks at Tour du Valat is precisely to teach others (students, interns, other volunteers....) how to observe these beautiful birds and why we do it. It is fundamental for us, to engage people in the subject, motivate them to help us and do it without affecting the birds. With that objective in mind, I go with them to special observational points in the Camargue, where you can easily be in a breath-taking atmosphere like the one in the picture. Due to the unforgettable and beautiful moments like the one in the picture, I think it is easy to see why it is such a magical place.
Berfin from Turkey:The Chelonia mydas green sea turtle regularly comes to nest in the Akyatan National Park in June-July. They come to the uninhabited
beach at night, prepared to find the most suitable place to make their nest. It is not always easy because there is always a threat of coyotes waiting for them. In moments such as this, the turtles return to the sea or leave their eggs close to the beach. Consequently, the eggs will not have the temperature and humidity they need to hatch. That's exactly when we help. This egg represents just one of the eggs, in one of the dozens of nests we have marked in walks every morning and evening. With our help, we try to increase its chances of life, with the fifties of his brothers moved to a new home. I hope he managed to be one of the little puppies who managed to hatch and reach the sea! I am very happy to be part of such a project with all my heart. My experience in this project has changed my life and still continues to change it.
Sema from Turkey: I saw the #EUBeachClean announcement on the university website and did not hesitate to apply for this volunteering
event. A group of people from all over the world gathered for saving the environment. We reached millions of people through the activity and focused on that our planet is our future. I was so happy to contribute to this situation. I found a chance to come across with other countries volunteers. We met on the beach and became close friends. We did not feel any cultural differences between each other. At that moment, it did not matter where you are from. We were feeling like we are all the same. Our only purpose was cleaning the beach and saving the whole world. We tried to speak the same language for the environment. And I have a lot of new friends. It was a great experience to be part of this chain for all of us. That is the reason why it was my magic European Solidarity Corps moment. Let’s feel the clean environment spirit together!