On June 29, 2005 50 young people from Odessa, Vilkovo, Izmail and Tatarbunary gathered in Vilkovo to celebrate the Danube Day.
The meeting was in the Danube Biosphere Reserve information center. Alexander Voloshkevich, a director of the Danube Biosphere Reserve, had celebratory speech to youth. Then the head of the Danube Club Vilkovo, Tatyana Balatskaya, carried out an excursion in the Danube Biosphere Reserve information center, where a lot of interesting exhibits are presented. Danube Clubs also made an exposition of their works. Call for Mobilization was spread among youth. Youth Parliamentarians (Savchenko Valentina from the Danube Club of Odessa, Malomuzh Olga from the Danube Club of Izmail, Balackyy Nicolay from the Danube Club of Vilkovo) told about their work during the 6th European Youth Water Parliament.
Then youth visited old part of the city Vilkovo, so-called Ukrainian Venice. In this part of the city roads are not existed, boats serve as transport, and people travel by small wood boats on eriks (local name of small canals). During excursion youth saw the houses constructed from reed, which growing on Danube river banks. During excursion Danube Clubs participants distributed copies of the Call for Mobilization to inhabitants of Vilkovo.
Second part of the day youth went on travels by vessel "Pelican" to the Danube river delta. They visited the Danube Biosphere Reserve, a cordon Midday, examined vicinities from a 11-meter survey tower, visited "0" kilometer of the Danube. The guide told to youth about history and culture of wildlife management in the Delta, traditions and life of local dwellers.
Youth worked in working groups on a platform located at the basis of the 11-meter tower. They wrote their wishes to the Danube on two big posters. The paper used for these posters was hand made by youth from the Danube Club Odessa as a result of paper recycling. Poems, devoted to the Danube, had been written on the posters by Danube Clubs' honorary members. These posters will take a honorable place among the exhibits of the Danube Biosphere Reserve information center.
On "0" kilometer youth bathed in the Danube. Then they gathered garbage on a territory approximately 600 m. In result it was collected more than 60 bags of wastes. The most active participants were awarded with prizes.
On a return way by "Pelican" youth had the second part of the excursion about Danube water resources. By results of the dust gathering action, eco-games the most active 20 participants have been awarded with prizes. Heads of the Danube Clubs were not remained without attention. They were awarded with honor certificates and souvenirs.
Danube Day was rather busy, but youth, despite of small weariness, received a "sea of pleasure". Participants of the Danube Day 2005 will keep in mind for whole their life.
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