Eco-Involved was an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange that took place in the beautiful region of Gerês (Braga), Portugal. The project brought together 42 young people from Portugal, Spain, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Turkey, and Estonia.
The primary goal of this projects was to teach digital tools for promoting sustainability. To achieve this, we explored sustainability through five distinct research areas: agriculture, people, flora/fauna, water, and urban/artificial life. Participants engaged in a variety of activities, including nature and outdoor experiences, non-formal learning, workshops, and arts-based sessions. These methods allowed participants to reflect on, express, and communicate their experiences, while fostering a deeper connection with nature and the local community.
The content you see on this website is the culmination of these efforts, showcasing the diverse art forms used to promote sustainability and share our collective journey.
With this work I want to show how important it is to keep waterfalls and reservoirs clean. Often people leave garbage during outdoor recreation and do not think about what the place of rest will look like if other people also leave their garbage.
Tattoos done according the awareness of water wastage problem, combining art and activism to promote the preservation of this essential resource.
This work shows a human figure trying to collect rubbish from a river and cleaning the water.
A song dedicated to the beauty of Gerês and the need to protect the water.
Drawings of things that represent and show to the people how much water we use in our life.
The poem speaks about Gerês, the relationships between people and nature, and how beautiful the Gerês National Park.
The poem speaks about people’s relationship with the local nature and their love and gratitude for the place.
(The poem is about natural beauties and thoughtless behaviours of people in nature. They may not be aware of this beauty and they lead to some detrimental results).
In a quiet, green forest,
Where the birds sing sweet songs,
Nature shows its true beauty,
Where everything belongs.
Tall trees reach the sky,
Flowers bloom so bright,
But some people walk by.
Without seeing the light.
A river flows softly,
Through valleys and hills,
Its water so clear,
With a touch that heals.
This place is a treasure,
More precious than gold,
Its joy and pure pleasure,
In every story told.
So next time you wander.
Through nature’s grand art,
Remember to ponder,
Its value in your heart.
Audio Recording “Walk through the sounds of Campo do Gerês”, dedicated to the Campo do Gerês and its people.
00:00 – Steps
02:40 – Approaching water
05:08 – Bells and horses
07:36 – Stones
08:12 – Metal
10:44 – Car noise
11:15 – Meditation
This text reflects on the author’s experiences in Gerês, highlighting the sense of community and local resistance to savage capitalism, while exploring personal interactions and hospitality that contrast with the global pressures of capitalism.
This poem by Miguel Torga captures the pain of leaving one’s village behind by mourning the loss of a deeply rooted way of life, where the rhythms of nature and community gave meaning and identity, now overshadowed by the silence and forgetfulness brought by modernity.
The Gerês Festival focused on creating a sustainable community by celebrating and promoting eco-friendly practices and fostering a sense of togetherness, as locals and visitors work collaboratively to protect the environment and preserve the cultural heritage of the region.
The work includes two abstract drawings.
“A Festa” features the colors of Portugal – yellow, green, and red – expressing the feelings the community inspired in the artist.
“Vox Populi” is a pencil drawing that captures the emotions the artist felt for the people.
In this serene audio piece, the gentle flow of a river intertwines with the melodic whistles of birds, creating a tranquil symphony of nature. This harmony of water and song evokes peace, freedom, and a deep connection to the natural world, inviting listeners to pause and embrace its quiet beauty.
This is a powerful drawing made with living leaves, urging reflection on our actions. It highlights the devastating impact of discarded cigarette butts—showing suffering forests, scorched trees, and harmed wildlife. A call to protect nature, one mindful choice at a time.
A poignant poem reflecting on the devastating 2020 fire in Gerês, juxtaposing past destruction with present recovery. Through words and imagery, it captures the resilience of nature and the urgency of preservation—reminding us of what was lost and what still needs protection.
I create a drawing that contrast polluted and unpolluted environments, highlighting the stark difference between them. Through my art, I aim to raise awareness about the impact of pollution and inspire action to protect our planet.
My work focuses on sustainability, emphasizing recycling and renewable energy sources like geothermal, wind, solar, hydropower, and biomass. I aim to raise awareness about these clean energy solutions and inspire others to contribute to a greener future.
This visual presentation offers a comprehensive overview of Gerês National Park, featuring a timeline, a detailed map, and key statistics on land distribution and tourism. The data, provided by José Carlos, highlights the park’s evolution and its impact on visitors and the environment.
This presentation highlights artificial issues affecting nature in Gerês, offering observations on key environmental problems and proposing ideas to address them. It aims to raise awareness and inspire action to protect the park’s natural balance.
Wake Up, Mommy is originally the Turkish song Uyan Anne by Nil Karaibrahimgil, highlighting the artificial issues harming our world. The powerful message in her lyrics resonated deeply with me, and I wanted to share it with those who don’t understand Turkish. A special thanks to my amazing friends for helping me sing when I lost my voice.
These photos capture how villagers use artificial materials to simplify daily life. While some of these materials don’t always blend with the rural landscape, they reflect a natural balance between tradition and modern convenience.
Our planet stands at a crossroads—pollution threatens its beauty, while untouched nature flourishes. The choice is ours: let it burn or let it shine. It’s time to protect and restore the balance for future generations.
This audio offers a genuine perspective on life in Gerês, highlighting the experiences of a native who faces and adapts to the region’s real challenges. It provides valuable insight into the local way of life and the issues affecting this unique environment.
Upcycling is the art of creatively reusing discarded materials to craft new, useful items, reducing waste and supporting sustainability. I turned a wine bottle into a chic vase and made three flowers from plastic and twigs, giving new life to these materials and adding a sustainable, stylish touch to my decor.
This is an artwork created through origami, exploring the theme of agriculture. It symbolizes the enduring beauty and importance of nature, reflecting on the vital connection between farming and the environment.
This is a drawing that illustrates the evolution of agriculture over time. Through visual details, the artwork highlights the milestones and changes that have shaped the way we cultivate the land and interact with nature.
In these drawings, we wanted to represent the “before and after” of agriculture. Today, most vegetables and fruits are found in supermarkets, and the tradition of planting in gardens is fading, with only older generations continuing this practice.
Today, we had the opportunity to visit a horse farm in Gerês, where we met the horses and their caregivers. We discussed their daily routine—what they eat, how they roam—and captured the experience through videos. With the help of AI, we even created a song to accompany the journey.
These artworks, made with both drawings and collages, explore the theme of agriculture. Through a blend of techniques, they highlight various aspects of farming, the relationship between humans and the land, and the cycle of growth that sustains life. Each piece reflects the beauty and importance of agriculture in our world.
