Three New Grants Awarded
Dalmatian Islands Environment Foundation has awarded three new grants that strengthen community-led action on water, food systems, and plastic pollution across the Dalmatian archipelago. Together, Water Leads, Children of Šipan for a Plastic-Free Island, and Eating our Way out of Crisis highlight how local organisations are turning environmental challenges into opportunities for learning, collaboration, and long-term resilience.
Water Leads (Tatavaka Association)
Water Leads, led by Tatavaka Association, puts island water at the centre of community life by connecting climate education, local knowledge, and practical stewardship of scarce freshwater resources. Building on Tatavaka’s experience with projects on Zlarin, the initiative engages residents, students, and local authorities in mapping water sources, understanding water-related risks, and co-designing solutions that respect both biodiversity and cultural landscapes. The project strengthens local leadership on water security and supports the shift towards more sustainable, climate-resilient island living.
Children of Šipan for a Plastic-Free Island (Šipan Academy)
Children of Šipan for a Plastic-Free Island, implemented by Šipan Academy, empowers children and young people as ambassadors of change in the transition away from single-use plastics on the island. Through creative workshops, outdoor activities, and hands-on campaigns, the project encourages families, schools, and local businesses to reduce plastic use, improve waste separation, and protect coastal and marine habitats that define Šipan’s identity. By placing childhood experience and imagination at the heart of environmental action, the initiative helps build a new island culture of responsibility and care for the sea.
Eating our Way out of Crisis (Pharos Institute)
Eating our Way out of Crisis, run by Pharos Institute, focuses on how invasive species can become nutrients in the coastal areas around Hvar. The project will map, catalogue, and do genotype sequencing of targeted invasive species and to provide a publicly accessible website. Through mapping, workshops, and knowledge-sharing, it demonstrates that what ends up on the plate can help regenerate landscapes and strengthen island economies at the same time.
Building resilient communities from the ground up
By supporting Water Leads, Children of Šipan for a Plastic-Free Island, and Eating our Way out of Crisis, the Foundation continues to back grassroots leaders who are reimagining water use, tackling plastic pollution, and transforming food systems from the bottom up. These new grants reflect a shared belief that small islands can become big hubs of innovation, where local communities drive the shift towards healthier ecosystems and more resilient livelihoods for generations to come.