BLUEFRONT Focus groups: Youth-led dialogues for a sustainable future

BLUEFRONT Focus groups: Youth-led dialogues for a sustainable future

We’re thrilled to announce the successful completion of the BLUEFRONT focus groups across our partner countries! These sessions marked a major milestone in our mission to empower youth and local communities to shape water sustainability and climate resilience strategies throughout Europe.

What were the focus groups about?

Held in Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, and Malta, the focus groups brought together over 50 participants including youth workers, environmental activists, scientists, educators, and community leaders. Their purpose? To explore local and regional challenges and opportunities related to water justice, the Blue Economy, and climate action. These insights now form the foundation for our upcoming Guidelines for Research and Water Roadmaps.

What did we learn?

Each country offered unique perspectives:

• Italy: Emphasized localized water challenges, from desertification in Basilicata to coastal pollution. Solutions included clean-up actions and use of biological indicators to track climate impacts.

• Malta: Discussed public mistrust of tap water, reliance on bottled water, and underused water reuse technologies. The need for institutional engagement and public education was clear.

• Finland: Focused on youth engagement through creative, hands-on activities like river clean-ups and visual storytelling. The importance of integrating water education into school curricula was highlighted.

• Greece: Identified barriers such as lack of tools, digital access, and community resistance. Still, youth showed strong motivation to co-lead research and advocacy efforts on water issues.

• Hungary: Showed the power of personal connection to water through projects like the Plastic Cup. Youth called for simplified resources and storytelling to inspire greater involvement.

Why does it matter?

The BLUEFRONT focus groups helped reveal key motivations, bottlenecks, and priorities for sustainable water engagement. From local clean-ups to youth-driven research, the activities reinforced our belief that inclusive, community-based action is the key to resilience. Participants expressed strong interest in further involvement, and their input will directly inform the methodology used in upcoming phases of the project.

Participant reflections

“Water is seen as a lifeless resource with no emotional attachments.”

“This project gives youth a voice in shaping our community’s water future.”

“The focus group made me realize how much we can influence water sustainability with small changes.”

What’s next?

Stay tuned for the release of our co-created research guidelines and water roadmaps! We’ll also continue sharing updates, interviews, and stories from the field!

Join us as we turn ideas into action.