As part of the initiatives accompanying the photo exhibition “Reflections on the Sea”, the Via Pontica Foundation held a creative workshop with fifth-grade students from Hristo Botev Primary School, focused on environmental education and the protection of the marine environment. The meeting with the children was a natural continuation of the idea that the exhibition should not be merely a visual experience, but also an opportunity for dialogue, reflection, and active engagement of young people with topics related to nature and its future.
The workshop was led by Prof. Pepa Miteva, who introduced the students to the role of art as a means of expressing attitudes toward the environment. Through discussions and creative tasks, the children were encouraged to share their vision of the sea—how they perceive it today and how they would like it to look tomorrow. A key emphasis of the activity was the idea of a clean, vibrant, and protected sea that can remain so for future generations.
With great imagination and enthusiasm, the students created their own drawings in which the sea came to life as a space filled with colors, life, and harmony. Many of the artworks clearly reflected the children’s personal relationship with nature—their desire to see it preserved, respected, and loved. The drawing process became not only a creative activity, but also a way for the children to reflect on their own role in protecting the environment.
The drawings created during the workshop will be exhibited in the school building, where they will remain accessible to students, parents, and visitors over the coming weeks. In this way, the message of the workshop will reach a wider audience and continue to remind everyone that caring for the sea begins at an early age—through knowledge, sensitivity, and personal example.
The creative workshop is part of the broader efforts of the Via Pontica Foundation to work with children and young people on topics related to the blue economy, sustainable development, and the protection of the Black Sea ecosystem. Through such initiatives, the foundation aims to build not only awareness among young people, but also a lasting sense of responsibility and commitment to nature.
The event was implemented with the support of the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
