At the beginning of September, alongside the Rotary Action Summit held in Palanga, Lithuania, the BASRAN Baltic Sea RYLA 2026 for young adults took place from 3 to 5 September. It is a leadership training program focusing on the environmental challenges of the Baltic Sea and is organized every summer on a rotating basis in different Baltic Sea countries.
Baltic Sea RYLA has two main objectives:
1. To increase participants’ knowledge of the challenges facing the Baltic Sea and the measures needed to address them.
2. To develop participants’ ability to initiate and lead local projects.
The project manager was Erika Zavackienė (Rotary Club ADITĖ, Klaipėda, District 1462, Lithuania). Coordination was also supported by BASRAN board member Hannele Kauranne (Helsinki Finlandia Hall).
There were 21 participants from across the Baltic countries, as well as one participant from RI in the United States. This time, only Poland and Denmark were not represented. Encouragingly, District 1420 was represented by participants from both countries: Grete Paaskivi (sponsoring club Viljandi) and Brendan Tully from Finland (Helsinki Finlandia Hall).
Erika Zavackienė summarized the goals of RYLA 2026 as follows:
“This year, our group from around the Baltic Sea will enjoy spending time together while developing innovative ideas for restoring the Baltic Sea and raising awareness of its challenges. During RYLA, teams of 3 to 5 participants will be formed. After taking part in workshops and visiting various locations, you will consider how to launch projects that connect Rotary clubs around the sea and enable them to carry out joint projects.”
Summary of the Baltic Sea RYLA 2026 PROGRAMME
Thursday 3.9.
Visit to the Klaipėda Sea Museum, where we learned about the animals of the Baltic Sea.
Visit to the Administration of the Curonian Spit National Park, where we learned how climate change influences coastal erosion and how invasive plant species damage native ecosystems.
Friday 4.9.
Visit to the Marine Research Institute at Klaipėda University, where we were introduced to plastic pollution and other challenges facing the Baltic Sea.
At the Klaipėda Science and Technology Park, we began intensive group work to develop ideas and solutions for Rotary clubs to initiate and run. Moderator Vaidas Levickis gave us a leadership course and guide us on how to lead our own projects and develop a project structure.
Saturday 5.9.
In the Morning was the great opening of Rotariada.
Before lunch Meeting with BASRAN Board members to jointly discuss the ideas developed over the previous days.
In the afternoon, we were invited to join the BASRAN workshop at the Rotary Action Summit.
In the evening, we are invited to the big closing Gala Concert in Palanga City Concert Hall.
Written by Hannele Kauranna, Finlandia Hall RC
