On 30th July 2026, the Environmental Information Centre (EIC) Constanța, established under the LEARN4SEA project coordinated by CERONAV, welcomed its youngest visitors ever.
For the first time, the centre hosted 14 preschool children (aged 5–6) from Piticot Kindergarten, accompanied by five teachers and kindergarten staff members, for an educational visit specially designed to match their age and curiosity.
CERONAV team prepared a fun, interactive programme that introduced environmental protection through play. The children enjoyed memory games, explored virtual environments using VR headsets, completed an exciting treasure hunt, and learned how to distinguish between elements of the natural environment and recyclable waste by sorting illustrated cards into the correct categories.

Their enthusiasm, curiosity and joyful energy made this first preschool visit a truly memorable experience for everyone involved. It was wonderful to see how eagerly they interacted with CERONAV team, asked questions, discovered new concepts and happily received LEARN4SEA promotional materials.
We strongly believe that environmental awareness starts at an early age, and this first visit by preschool children to the EIC Constanța marks an important milestone in the LEARN4SEA project's mission to inspire environmentally responsible communities across the Black Sea Basin.
A big thank you to the children and teachers for spending the day with us. We look forward to welcoming them back soon!

Four countries came together during the international pilot event of the LEARN4SEA project, held in Shabla, Bulgaria, on 28–29 May 2026.

The Black Sea knows no borders when it comes to its protection. Guided by this shared vision, the international pilot event of LEARN4SEA – Innovative Joint Learning for Environmental-Friendly Behaviour of Communities in the Black Sea Basin brought together partners and stakeholders from four countries in Shabla.

Organized by the Black Sea - Danube Association for Research and Development (BDCA) in partnership with Shabla Municipality and the Romanian Maritime Training Centre (CERONAV), the event gathered representatives of local authorities, research institutions and environmental organizations from Bulgaria, Romania, Türkiye and Georgia.

The two-day meeting was officially opened by Marian Zhechev, Mayor of Shabla Municipality, who welcomed the participants with an opening address. In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of cooperation between institutions and local communities in addressing environmental challenges and protecting the natural resources of the Black Sea region.

Over the course of two days, participants exchanged good practices, discussed environmental challenges facing the Black Sea region, and validated the cooperation mechanism developed within the project. The discussions focused on the need for stronger coordination among local authorities, national institutions and stakeholders, as well as on knowledge sharing and the active involvement of citizens in protecting the Black Sea environment.

The pilot event confirmed that effective solutions for reducing pollution and safeguarding natural resources require not only technologies and policies, but also active partnerships between institutions, the scientific community and local communities.

#LEARN4SEA #InterregNEXT #BlackSeaBasin #CleanAndGreenRegion #BlackSea #EnvironmentalProtection #Sustainability #BlueEconomy #CrossBorderCooperation #GreenTransition #EUProjects

ℹ️LEARN4SEA project successfully promoted environmental education during the first “Meeting with Turquoise” (TUrkuaZLA Buluşma) Festival held on 28 April 2026 at Tuzla Kamil Abduş Lagoon Park in Istanbul. 

🌊Organised under the slogan “Let’s Keep Our Seas Clean,” the event brought together students, educators, NGOs, public institutions, and local stakeholders to raise awareness about marine pollution, environmental responsibility, and sustainable solutions. 

✅More than 1,000 participants attended, including 650 middle school students. A key highlight of the festival was the presentation of LEARN4SEA’s technology-based environmental education tools, including VR educational games, sea and air drones, educational videos, and an air purifier. 

The VR recycling game ♻️ developed by Piri Reis University within the project attracted particular interest, helping students learn proper waste sorting through interactive experiences. By combining environmental education, technology, and youth engagement, the event strengthened public awareness of marine protection and showcased the positive impact of EU-supported cooperation on local communities.

Representatives of the LEARN4SEA project (🔗 https://lnkd.in/di2639zY) actively participated in the ANEMONE PLUS (BSB00949) – Phase 1 Stakeholder Co-Design Workshop, held on April 22, 2026, in Constanța, Romania.
The event, organized under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021–2027, brought together key stakeholders from governance, research, business, and civil society to contribute to the co-design of a WebGIS platform aimed at assessing the vulnerability of the Black Sea marine ecosystem to anthropogenic pressures.

💡 During the session dedicated to Interreg projects on the Romanian Black Sea coast, LEARN4SEA representatives showcased the project’s innovative approach to maritime education and capacity building.

🚀 A highlight of the participation was the hands-on demonstration of immersive learning materials developed in Virtual Reality (VR) by CERONAV experts. Participants had the opportunity to directly test these training modules using VR headsets acquired through the project, experiencing first-hand how digital technologies can enhance skills development in the blue economy sector.

🤝 The workshop provided a valuable platform for:
exchanging knowledge and best practices across Interreg initiatives
fostering synergies between projects addressing environmental protection and maritime training
engaging stakeholders in participatory, co-creation processes
LEARN4SEA (BSB00008) continues to promote innovative, digital, and practice-oriented learning solutions, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable Black Sea region.

#Interreg #BlackSea #LEARN4SEA #ANEMONEPLUS #BlueEconomy #VRLearning #DigitalSkills #MaritimeTraining #CoCreation #Innovation