- The activity “Rivers that unite us”, developed in the environment of the Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés Natural Park, combined educational games and a drawing contest to raise awareness of the value of water and the impact of climate change.
- Awareness-raising actions that reinforce cross-border cooperation between Galicia and northern Portugal under the European program POCTEP.
Lobios, May 16, 2025. The CEIP Plurilingüe do Xurés participated today in the educational day “Rivers that unite us”, a playful and educational action framed in the European Cross-Border Cooperation Project POCTEP RISC_PLUS. The initiative was organized by the project partners – the Hydrographic Confederation of Minho-Sil (CHMS), the University of Vigo (UVigo), the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and the University of Porto (U.Porto) – with the aim of promoting environmental awareness among students from an early age.
The day, aimed at kindergarten and primary school students, included participatory and educational activities focused on knowledge and respect for water, as well as the protection of the natural environment shared by Spain and Portugal. Through dynamics adapted to their ages, the schoolchildren reflected on the importance of the rivers in their environment, such as the Miño or the Limia, and on the need to preserve these fluvial ecosystems in the face of threats such as pollution or climate change.
As part of the activity, the drawing contest “Caring for my river helped by the European Union” was held, in which the children expressed their ideas on how to protect the waterways that are part of the transboundary natural heritage. The winning entries were announced during the event and exhibited at the school, with outstanding involvement and creativity on the part of the students.
This educational action reinforces the commitment of the RISC_PLUS project to environmental awareness and citizen involvement as key tools to prevent risks associated with phenomena such as floods, the central objective of the project. It also highlights the added value of being part of a strategic project within the POCTEP cooperation framework, which promotes joint solutions to common challenges in the Galicia – North Portugal Euroregion.
The environmental education day “Rivers that unite us”, shows how science, education and international collaboration can go hand in hand to sow a more aware and committed citizenship with their natural environment.
“This morning we held several workshops that were a great success in terms of participation and the desire to learn about topics such as the water cycle; the benefits of working together between bordering countries that share river basins; the help provided by the European Union through the POCTEP co-financed projects; the importance of saving water, etc.” explained Carlos Ruiz, head of the OPH and director of the RISC_PLUS project.
“On behalf of all the partners in the project, I would like to thank the students for their participation and the creativity shown in the drawings of the ”Rivers that unite us” contest; and the teachers for their willingness and help since the presentation of the project at the school. Finally and fundamentally, thanks to the mayoress of Lobios for the magnificent welcome, predisposition and collaboration in the event” Ruiz concluded.
RISC_PLUS Project. The actions carried out under the POCTEP RISC_PLUS project are co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg VI A Spain – Portugal (POCTEP) 2021-2027 program, which promotes cross-border cooperation projects with the support of the European Union.
Resolution of the contest “RIVERS THAT UNIT US”.
Early Childhood Education:
1º MIGUEL DOMINGUEZ SALES
2º BRAIS FERNÁNDEZ NUÑEZ
Primary Education:
1º ELEA BASTOS FORT
2º HUGO IGLESIAS DELGADO
