Eco Kayak, Coastal Cleanup and Dolphin Watch

Svitlana Buko ’97 (Sevastopol, Ukraine)

Event Location: Sevastopol, Ukraine

FLEX GYSD Grant Funding: 500$

Cost Share: 724$

With coastal areas facing the double threat of climate change and environmental degradation, FLEX Alumna Svitlana Buko ’97 organized a project to promote ecological awareness among the coastal population of Crimea. The project also aimed to reconnect ecology researchers, kayakers, volunteers, and the general population.

The 37 participants, of which 7 were FLEX alumni, watched dolphins from a boat, cleaned up the beach - collecting 11 bags of thrash, studied how to kayak, and hiked up the mountain to watch dolphins. They also took part in two workshops on ecotourism and dolphin protection. The event took place on April 12, in Sevastopol, Crimea. Participants included representatives from local nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, marine research institutions, water sport organizations and business.

FLEX alumna Tetyana Timofeenko from Simferopol says: “During the project, I learned a lot about dolphins and their habits and lifestyles. It was very useful to learn about how to help a dolphin in a critical situation. The lecture was very interesting with great information about Crimean beaches, and the ways in which they are preserved. The most exciting part of the project was being excited about whether we would see dolphins and actually getting to see them, so close and so many!”
Check out the video of the event!
For more information, check out the website that Svitlana has made for this project.

Dolphins noticed during the project

Sevastopol, Ukraine - Balaklava

A look back to Svitlana's  last year GYSD project 

Friends of Help and Travel CRIMEA clean up

Evelina Ibrayimova’11 (Yalta, Ukraine)

After the clean up of Alupka Park

Event Location: Alupka

FLEX GYSD Grant Funding: 103$

Cost Share: 404$

Summary: FLEX alumna Evelina Ibrayimova ’11 organized a project dedicated to environment protection, volunteering, and community service. The first part of the project was a clean up of Alupka city park in Crimea where, volunteers collected 20 bags of trash. After the clean up, volunteers had discussion about the importance of volunteering and everyone shared their experiences and volunteering ideas. Later the team of volunteers visited the Vorontsov Palace, a masterpiece of Crimean architecture. The palace administration organized an interesting lecture about characteristics and history of the Voronstov Palace and showed it to the team from the inside.

Volunteers at Vorontsov Palace, Alupka, Ukraine

The project involved 25 volunteers including five FLEX Alumni. Volunteers not only contributed to the cleaner environment, but also expanded their knowledge of Crimean history and culture. As Evelina says: “By combining hard work, friendly discussion and cultural activity we demonstrated that being responsible for our land can be fun!”

Beach Clean-Up in Sevastopol, Ukraine

We have already written about Svitlana Buko from Ukraine and clean-up project at the Crimean coast. It turned out very successful, and now we are ready to tell you all the details about it with the help of Svitlana's report:

"On April 27 GYSD Crimean coastal up project  “Clean Beach” brought together 55 Volunteers  (8 FLEX alumni, 47 locals) to clean Fiolent National Park Beach “Small Light House”. Coastal clean-up was a great success – after several hours of work volunteers collected over 300 bags of trash!  Every piece of trash that is picked up during the Fiolent Coastal Cleanup should be a challenge for change!  

Core management team consisted of 3 volunteers – Svitlana Buko (FLEX Alumna), Ekaterina Pimenova (EcoFrest Project manager) and Elena Tsibizova (ecologist).  One month prior to the event  Managers  contacted local universities, local ecological NGOs, local office of State Administration of Protection of Natural Resources,  raised public awareness by participating in the local SevStarFM radio show and posted information in key social networks and local forums.

National park Fiolent is one of the most beautiful places in Crimea - beaches are down by the

steep cliffs with stunning vast views over the Black Sea. Beaches are hard to access due to steep cliffs and steep slopes in the landscape – these places are not usually cleaned up and are full of man-made debris due to the fact that it is a popular “wild camping sites.”  The natural beauty of the Fiolent area is the foundation of our community. It brings thousands of visitors to our coasts. It is essential to raise environmental awareness of locals, visitors, and businesses to protect our beautiful beaches.

Locals showed an impressive level of eco-awareness and responsibility. 55 volunteers registered at the social network registration page. Pre-registration was encouraged, but not mandatory. Statistics show different cities of participants: Sevastopol, Simferopol, Yalta and Moscow!  The main objective was to clean the beaches and the volunteers did just that, bringing bag after bag to the drop off points strategically marked at the top of the cliffs.  All the trash was divided into glass (green bags), plastic (blue bags), trash (black bags) – for separate trash recycling.  

"We just want to help make the Coast more beautiful," said  Katya Reznikova - one of the ladies who brought her little children with her to show them how coastal clean up is organized.  Another volunteer Valeria Zolotareva shared  "It's a great place to come with the family and have fun, so why not come down here and help keep it beautiful?"

"Trash is one of the biggest threats to the health of our sea and waterways," said Ekaterina Pimenova, local lead and eco manager of Sevastopol Ecofest. "It's here to stay unless we change our practices."  In order to raise more awareness about practices “awareness” signs were designed and produced by local business AudioMasterskaya and 3 signs were places strategically at 2 entrances to the beaches and at the bottom of the cliff, asking people to take trash back with them.

All the people  worked hard! It was a beautiful day to be a good steward of our Fiolent Coast beaches! Many volunteers banded together  and confirmed their willingness and interest to keep beaches beautiful during fall stewardship (using this project as a sample demonstration activity for future replication). The great turnout of locals and the support with trash disposal for separate trash recycling we have received from the local business Slovyanskaya Gavan’  sends a clear message:  Crimean people do care about their coastal environment.  Coastal Cleanup Day is what community impact and eco awareness is all about. Thank you to all of you who made a difference for our blue planet!

Special thanks to FLEX GYSD grant for supporting this project and brining Crimea FLEX alumni to support locals with coastal clean up! This was a tangible way to make a difference at the local level and still be a part of the World’s biggest  Global Youth Service Day!"

We thank you Svitlana for your hard work at raising eco-awareness and contribution to the Global Youth Service Day! Hope to see you at next GYSD as well! ;)

Keep in touch with our blog to read other encouraging stories! Who knows, maybe you will find the one that will become your inspiration for your first or next GYSD project! :)