Project name:
Let’s Create Regional and Environmental Solidarity
Project duration
01/02/2019- 31/05/2020
Total project budget: 8 570 €
Association Biom budget: Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes: 8 570 €
Lead beneficiary:
Association Biom
Project partners:
Georgian Youth for Europe, Public Institution „Priroda“
Contact:
Đina Nola, djina.nola[at]biom.hr, voditelj projekta
Project goals:
Foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of nature through hands-on experience, empowering participants to become lifelong advocates for nature conservation.
Contribute to the protection of Croatia’s last remaining Griffon Vulture population through direct care, monitoring, and public education efforts.
Raise awareness about biodiversity loss and nature conservation by engaging directly with general public and local communities through educational activities and personal exchange.
Project summary
In 2019, Biom welcomed two volunteers from Georgia as part of the five-month European Solidarity Corps project Let’s CRES (Let’s Create Regional and Environmental Solidarity).Their work was mostly focused on supporting conservation and public outreach at the Beli Visitor Centre and Rescue Centre for Griffon Vultures on the island of Cres.
Throughout the project, the volunteers were actively involved in the day-to-day activities of the Centre. They contributed to the rehabilitation and care of Griffon Vultures, helped manage visitor interactions, and supported the rescue operations during the busy summer months. They supported daily routines in the aviary and helped reduce stress levels for recovering birds, making vulture rehabilitation more effective overall.
In addition to working at the Centre, the volunteers took part in fieldwork and nature protection activities across Croatia. They contributed to migration monitoring on Učka and at Vransko Lake, owl monitoring in Plitvice Lakes National Park, and habitat restoration efforts in Učka Nature Park. On Cres, they helped identify electricity poles that pose a threat to birds. Through all these experiences, they gained new skills in data collection, species identification and field monitoring, while also increasing their understanding of Croatian and European biodiversity.
The project also had a strong social and educational component. The volunteers interacted daily with local communities and Centre visitors, sharing stories about their background and their motivation to join the ESC programme. These interactions helped raise awareness about nature conservation, the biodiversity crisis, but also about the values of international solidarity and cooperation. Furthermore, their involvement in ornithological and habitat restoration camps allowed them to connect with other volunteers from around Europe, promoting intercultural understanding and exchanging experiences.
The experience had a personal impact as well. Both volunteers stepped outside their comfort zones and developed valuable soft skills – from communication in a foreign language to time management, responsibility, independence and self-confidence. One of them notably improved her bird identification skills and took a strong interest in ornithology. Throughout their volunteering experience, they gained skills and confidence that will support them in their future studies, work – and whatever paths they choose next.
