Blue Communities is a youth mobilization project addressing water scarcity and climate change in Italy. The initiative supports young people in creating territorial networks, “Blue Communities”, that bring together schools, institutions, and citizens to promote responsible water use and sustainable lifestyles.
Local participants
200 high school students from Scuola Superiore Ignazio Vian (Bracciano), together with teachers, families, local institutions, and community stakeholders.
A nation-wide project
Seven Italian regions: Piemonte, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna, Toscana, Lazio, and Sicilia.
Partner network
CO-FINANCED BY
Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo (AICS)
MAIN PARTNER
CEVI – Centro di Volontariato Internazionale
Short Description
Blue Communities is a national initiative aimed at empowering young people to address the growing challenge of water scarcity linked to climate change. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, the project encourages students and local communities to adopt more sustainable water practices.
Coordinated by CEVI and co-financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the initiative promotes the idea of water as a common good and a fundamental human right. Schools, institutions, and civil society actors collaborate to build local “Blue Communities” committed to protecting water resources and promoting regenerative territorial practices.
Main goals
Empower young people
Support youth to become “animators and promoters” of change, raising awareness about climate change and water in their peer groups and communities.
Collective awareness of water consumption
Promote concrete behaviours and advocacy action that cut both direct and indirect water use.
Build Blue Communities
Create local networks of schools, institutions, citizens and organisations that work together on water conservation, and connect them into a wider “community of communities.”
Key Activity Pathways
-
Youth mobilization and environmental advocacy.
-
Non-formal education on water, climate change, and sustainability.
-
Creation of territorial “Blue Communities”.
-
Agroecology and responsible water management.
-
Collaboration between schools, institutions, and civil society.
Core Activities
-
Educational programs and workshops in schools.
-
Teacher training on climate change and water resource management.
-
Field visits and experiential learning activities.
-
Public events and national awareness initiatives.
-
Civic consultation to collect community perspectives on water use.
-
Youth-led initiatives promoting sustainable behaviors.
Main Outputs
-
Participation of 200 high school students in educational and advocacy pathways.
-
Creation of territorial Blue Communities networks.
-
Increased awareness of water scarcity and sustainable consumption.
-
Educational resources and thematic reports on water management.
-
Public events and community dialogue on water justice.
Long-term Contribution
Blue Communities strengthens youth engagement in environmental stewardship and promotes a culture of water responsibility. By connecting education, advocacy, and community networks, the project contributes to more resilient territories and supports the recognition of water as a shared resource and fundamental human right.
News from our blog
Our approach recognizes that the rights of nature can only be realized through the renewal of our communal bonds and the shared responsibility of care. Through participatory governance, education, and collective action, we aim to restore our resources as living commons, where ecological regeneration and community regeneration are inseparable.
