Become a qualified River Cleanup Coordinator!

Apply for a unique opportunity and learn from experienced plastic pollution experts from all around the Danube River Basin

For years, dedicated volunteers from Plastic Cup Initiative have been working on developing an effective international river cleanup method in the Tisza river basin. Thanks to their efforts, a structured and certified approach to cleaning our rivers from plastic pollution is being established, and now invites you to become a part of the solution. Are you a student or an NGO worker passionate about river cleanup methodologies? Do you want to learn more about the formation and management of riverine litter accumulations? If you enjoy fieldwork, community engagement, and want to take your skills to the next level, apply now for the Community River Cleanup Coordinator Workshop!

Witness plastic pollution firsthand and learn effective cleanup methods from experienced "Riversavers."

The workshop is currently open for applications, offering a rare chance to become a qualified community river cleanup coordinator for free. This initiative, taking place within the Aquatic Plastic project, provides hands-on training, practical experience, and certification in river cleanup techniques.

Why is this a great opportunity?

Certified Training – You will gain recognized certification as a qualified Community River Cleanup Coordinator, which can be a valuable asset for future environmental and sustainability projects.
Real Impact – The training goes beyond theory, allowing you to actively participate in cleaning and preserving the Tisza River from plastic pollution.
Community & Networking – Join a network of like-minded individuals and environmental professionals dedicated to protecting our waterways.
Cost-Free Participation – Thanks to the program’s funding, you can gain this valuable certification without financial barriers (see application criteria below).
A Sustainable Future – By becoming a certified river cleanup coordinator, you contribute to the long-term sustainability and health of our rivers and aquatic ecosystems.

Date and duration: Overlapping training for two groups (Group A - university students / Group B - NGO representatives) within the period of 12-19 May, 2025

5 consecutive days / 4 nights
Group A: 12-16 May 2025
Group B: 15-19 May 2025

Location: Kisköre, Riversaver Center, Hungary

Number of participants: 15 people / group, 2 groups

Riversavers motivate local communities, mobilize resources and initiate river cleanups.

Application criteria and process:

To apply, send a short motivation email to aquaticplastic@petkupa.hu with an optional CV attached. Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee participation in the workshop. To ensure the best experience with the most suitable candidates, applications will be reviewed by the workshop organizing committee, who may reach out for an interview. Having swimming skills, paddling experience, and a background in volunteering, cleanup efforts, or outdoor activities is a plus. The participation fee is covered by the EU for selected applicants from the following Danube countries: Romania, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Practical info:

Fees: For selected applicants, the accommodation, meals, and travel costs will be covered by the Aquatic Plastic project.

Accommodation: University students will be provided with basic comfort accommodation, either on a boat or in bungalows. NGO representatives will receive separate rooms in apartments.

Travel: To have your travel costs covered, your itinerary will be arranged by an official partner of the Aquatic Plastic project, together with fellow participants from your country.

Meals: Participants will receive 3 meals daily: breakfast, lunch and dinner, refreshments will be available on site during your whole stay.

The workshop will show you that river cleanups are great sources of joy:

and the collected plastic can be recycled in a thousand ways:

Download the workshop poster HERE

Send your application or your questions here: aquaticplastic@petkupa.hu

FAQs:

Q: What does ‘community river cleanup’ mean, and what types of pollution do you target?

A: River cleanup efforts focused on plastic pollution can be categorized as professional or community-driven. This workshop specifically covers community cleanups—teaching participants how to engage local communities and involve diverse stakeholders in cleanup initiatives.

Q: Why is the list of countries with free admission limited?

A: The Interreg Danube Region Program allocates a specific budget to project partners of Aquatic Plastic to cover workshop expenses. However, this funding is limited to participants from certain countries, restricting free admission to those eligible regions.

Q: How long does the selection process take?

A: After the application deadline, all submissions will be compiled and evaluated. If the number of applicants is high, a selection committee may be formed to conduct interviews. Applicants awarded free participation will be notified via email 2–3 weeks before the workshop.

Q: What exactly will we learn, and where is the workshop held?

A: The hydropower plant in Kisköre, on the Tisza River, receives a significant amount of plastic pollution each year, with floating waste accumulations sometimes spanning several hectares. Adjacent to this strategic site, the Plastic Cup Initiative has established the Riversaver Centre, a dedicated field station for river cleanup efforts. Here, alongside the Floating Exhibition, participants will explore how plastic pollution forms, behaves in rivers, and how it can be effectively managed.