Being an IVY at Interreg Flanders-the Netherlands
My name is Jip. I’m a 25-years-old IVY volunteer at the Interreg Flanders-the Netherlands programme. I have started in May, and now I am about a third into my IVY experience. Here, I see first-hand how interregional cooperation works and what it can do! Flanders and the Netherlands share not only a language but are also very alike in culture, and they share similar contemporary challenges and opportunities. It makes sense, therefore, that they work together to address these challenges. Over the past two months, I have been visiting the various Interreg projects that try to do so. These projects cover a whole range of topics. As an IVY, I assist with the public consultations and I visit projects and write articles about. Visiting these projects has been even more fun and interesting than I had thought they would be beforehand. This is mostly because of the enthusiasm of the project managers and the interesting topics they address. Among others, I have visited a project that is trying to reintroduce otters to Flanders and the Netherlands; a project that is trying to facilitate sustainable tourism right in a park right on the border between the two countries; and a project that trains health-care workers to become innovators at their own organization. Moreover, I have gone to castles and robotics fairs and I have been on boats and on peatery excursions. During these visits, I have spend a surprising amount of time outside in nature. The themes have been far and wide, and I have spoken with intriguing people and learned a great deal at each of these events. This experience has shown me how diverse, fun and important these Interreg projects and the programme are. Interreg facilitates important opportunities for cooperation that might otherwise have been overlooked. Moreover, I am directly witnessing the positive influence that the projects have on their environment. This has made the experience so far quite special. I still have four more months to go, and I am looking forward to more fun outings that are sure to follow! – Jip, IVY Reporter at the Joint Secretariat of Interreg Belgium-The Netherlands (Vlaanderen-Nederland) Programme. Learn more about the Interreg Belgium-The Netherlands Click Here
Enhancing Transnational Cooperation: My Journey with Interreg Atlantic Area
The main goal of the Interreg Atlantic Area programme is to support innovative projects that promote growth and address common issues faced by regions in France, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. This mission includes tackling challenges related to economic development, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion. By fostering cooperation between regions distributed by several countries, the programme aims to enhance the overall quality of life for the citizens who live and work there. As an Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) participant, I contribute to this mission by assisting in communication and outreach activities. Currently, my tasks include supporting the Citizen Consultation of the Programme Post-2027, which involves creating surveys and assisting in the development and communication of events, such as the “Building Tomorrow: Interreg Atlantic Discussed by the Next Generation” event held in Santo Tirso, in collaboration with our partners. The Interreg Atlantic Area programme encompasses all regions of Portugal and Ireland, as well as the Atlantic-facing regions of France and Spain, including Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Pays-de-la-Loire, Bretagne, Normandie, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, País Vasco, La Rioja, Navarra, Andalucía, and the Islas Canarias. The beneficiaries of this programme are diverse, including public and private sector organizations, research institutions, municipalities, and local communities. Partnerships are based on a quadruple helix approach, by addressing common challenges such as marine pollution, renewable energy, and sustainable tourism, the programme provides tangible benefits to these regions. Cooperation is at the heart of the Interreg Atlantic Area. Project partners from different countries work closely to share knowledge, expertise, and resources, driving joint solutions. This collaboration is facilitated through regular meetings, workshops, conferences, and joint actions, ensuring that each partner’s unique perspective and skills contribute to the success of the projects. I was particularly drawn to the Atlantic Area Programme because it includes my homeland, Normandy, and regions with languages, cultures, and histories I studied at the University. The thematic priorities of the programme resonate with my personal values and professional interests. Being part of this initiative allows me to engage with diverse cultures, contribute to meaningful projects, and develop my skills in a dynamic and supportive environment. What I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to connect with people from different backgrounds and learn about the innovative solutions being implemented across the Atlantic region. The experience has been incredibly enriching, both professionally and personally. It has given me a greater appreciation for the importance of transnational cooperation and the positive impact it can have on regional development. By sharing my experience, I hope to inspire others to get involved and support initiatives that promote transnational cooperation and regional development. – Laurent, IVY Reporter at Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte (CCDR-N), in the framework of Managing Authority and Joint Secretariat Interreg Atlantic Area Discover more about the Interreg Programme Atlantic Area Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor Click Here
Reporter at URBACT – support the Interreg Cohesion Policy (post 2027)
With an international background as a French-Ecuadorian young woman, I am interested in how regions, and more specifically, cities can cooperate to co-design a better urban future. I am participating as an INTERREG Youth Volunteer (IVY) reporter at URBACT supporting the INTERREG consultation on the European Future Cohesion Policy (post 2027), its regional policy which aims to reduce disparities between Europe’s regions through cooperation and provides support to each region to foster their development. As an Interreg programme, URBACT implements Cohesion Policy at the local level by enabling cooperation and knowledge exchange among European cities. Organised within thematic networks to foster sustainable; inclusive, smart, and green urban development, URBACT support local action combined with EU learning. URBACT enables this knowledge exchange through networks. These bring together EU cities willing to exchange ideas and produce integrated local policies and actions with the help of peers, local stakeholders, and URBACT experts. URBACT is contributing to the INTERREG consultation on the future of the Cohesion Policy and territorial cooperation from a local, urban perspective starting with an online survey, which is running from 26 March to 31 July 2024. The outcome of the consultation will not only evaluate the current programmes’ performance, but also shape the next URBACT programme and inform the future Cohesion Policy. As an IVY Reporter, I am supporting the URBACT consultation, through communication, and organisation of workshops and discussions to collect data. My responsibilities include writing articles for the URBACT and INTERREG websites, creating social media content, and organizing and moderating workshops and discussions to collect qualitative data. Notably, I moderated the consultation events at the URBACT Lead Partner Expert meeting in Paris (May 15-16), the National URBACT Point in Utrecht (June 12-13), and the URBACT Monitoring Committee meeting in Ghent (June 27-28). Besides, as an IVY I am particularly interested in involving the youth in the consultation, Therefore, I co-organized consultation events with Brežice, host of the European Youth Event (EYE 2024), and Ghent, European Youth Capital 2024. The URBACT programme has always strived to respond closely to cities needs, and its method allows cities to cooperate and learn from each other to find innovative solutions to common challenges. To make a good case for the future of the URBACT programme, it is important to have as many contributions as possible from the consultation. Cities and citizens know best what they need to improve in their cities, so it is important that URBACT shapes its future programme together through the survey and the overall consultation. – Ana Francisca, IVY Reporter at Urbact Discover more about URBACT Click Here
My experience as an IVY Volunteer for the StrategyMedFor project, in Malaga
Hello everyone, I’m Meritxell! I’m more than halfway through my experience as an IVY volunteer for the StrategyMedFor Interreg EuroMED project, led by the the European Topic Center for Spatial Analysis and Synthesis (ETC-UMA), in Málaga, Andalucía’s sunniest and busiest city, at the heart of the Mediterranean. Allow me to share a bit about my IVY experience! The ETC-UMA is an international research center within the University of Málaga. Since 2011, ETC-UMA has been supporting the development of knowledge and tools to inform evidence-based policy. The team possesses wide expertise in ecosystem assessment and monitoring. It focuses on various environmental and socio-economic domains, including ecosystem management, environmental conservation, and territorial planning, all from a geographical perspective. StrategyMedFor is a cooperative initiative (2024-2026) aimed at developing a Strategy for the Sustainable Management of Mediterranean Forests (SSMMF). Mediterranean forests are renowned for their rich biodiversity and vital ecosystem services. However, these important natural resources face numerous direct and indirect pressures, increasing their vulnerability to disturbances and ecosystem degradation. Despite their increased coverage in recent decades, the condition of Mediterranean forests requires urgent action to enhance their resilience to global change through improved management. StrategyMedFor will contribute to the conservation and enhancement of these forests, addressing the needs and knowledge gaps in strategies and action plans for their sustainable management. The project’s outcomes will provide a common strategy and framework. Through collaborative efforts with partners, the project aims to establish a reliable database covering the entire Mediterranean basin, advancing collective knowledge and fostering better-informed decision-making. Where do I fit in this crucial mission? My tasks mainly alternate between communications work and support for project management. For example, I am currently transforming information about three project pilot sites, rich natural environments located in different parts of the Mediterranean, into an interactive StoryMap. By using the power of storytelling, we aim to create a communication product that turns a point on a map into a vivid real place in the minds of others, highlighting their beautiful landscapes, culture, specificities, and challenges. My routine at the ETC-UMA offices in Málaga is very enjoyable. Everyone is keen to help me when I’m lost, and they don’t hesitate to call me if they need my support. I really look forward to the coffee and lunch breaks, where I can always share a laugh with my colleagues. The team is very multicultural, and I relish finding cultural differences we can discuss. Cohesion policy is at the heart of the European Union’s strategy to reduce imbalances between countries and regions. It represents an important opportunity for young people. It is a pleasure to support European Territorial Cooperation and solidarity across the Mediterranean, helping to promote such an essential policy! – Meritxell, IVY Project Partner for Interreg Euro-MED project “StrategyMedFor” at the European Topic Centre – University of Malaga (ETC-UMA)
My IVY Experience for DIGITAL ETHICS CULTURE, INTERREG project under the progarmme Italy-Croatia
During my involvement in the D.E.C. (Digital Ethics Culture) project, I had the opportunity to contribute to an initiative aimed at providing a territorial analysis of the main gaps in citizens’ knowledge and awareness regarding the use of new technologies and the internet. The project aims to identify specific areas where citizens and young people encounter the greatest difficulties and provide them with the necessary tools to manage new technologies consciously. Throughout these three months, I had the opportunity to contribute to the project through various activities: Participation in project meetings: I collaborated with project partners and stakeholders, both locally and cross-border. Management of the project’s social media: I handled the project’s online presence, sharing news and results to increase visibility and awareness. The specific objective of the project is to create tools and methods that young generations can use to autonomously manage new technologies without being subjugated by them. To achieve this goal, the project focuses on analyzing three main areas: European legislation on data protection, cybersecurity, and the challenges and opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. The approach of the D.E.C. project aims not only to ensure compliance with data protection regulations but also to promote technological awareness among citizens and young people. Through concrete and specific actions, the project aims to provide practical tools that enable future generations to manage new technologies responsibly and consciously. – Sabrina, IVY Project Partner at the Eurelations Eeuropean Economic Interest Grouping – Eurelations EEIG for the Interreg Italy-Croatia Project “D.E.C.” Discover more about the D.E.C. project Click Here
Shape a better tomorrow!
Hey there, I am Luka, and I would like to share with you what my IVY experience has been so far. It has been a month and a half since I first stepped into the offices of the Manging Authority of the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia Programme in Trieste and I am writing this to present to you, future IVYs, what such volunteering experience entails. I must admit that the first days were quite hard, a new environment, a new desk, and especially new colleagues, quite a lot to digest and get used to! But I soon found out that the work atmosphere is really relaxed, everyone is always ready to answer my questions, listen to my proposals and quickly jump to my rescue when I find myself in doubt. My role as an IVY reporter is to promote what the Interreg Programme does as an active member of the communication team, so as everyone can imagine my daily tasks are publishing content on the Programme website, revise and help with the writing of the brochure to present the state of the art of the projects cofinanced by Interreg Italy-Slovenia Programme, take part in the weekly meetings with the rest of the communication team, writing emails and much more. I also had the opportunity to be present at the 5th Monitoring Committee of the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia Programme held on March 21st and 22nd 2024, this was something different from the usual day to day office work and was also the occasion for my first study visit of one of the partner’s sites of the MEDS GARDEN+ project. The prospect of an office job could sound a touch boring and always the same, but it is not. There is always something new and exciting to discuss and learn. Sure, it is quite a steep learning curve, getting used to the terminology and to the new role is not always easy. However, all the challenges and the opportunities that this IVY experience has presented so far were all moments of enrichment, of learning what volunteering in an atmosphere that promotes cooperation and shared European values is. I would strongly recommend to try it for yourself. Apply and become an IVY and help to promote what cooperation is and how can be implemented. It is an opportunity to challenge yourself, have fun and learn something new, an experience where you can participate in shaping our common future. Sure, everyone has a different memory, a different experience, however I am sure that this volunteering opportunity can help you, young people, to be prepared to work for a better cooperation and with that help to build a Europe ready for future challenges. Say YES and help shape a better tomorrow! – Luka, IVY Reporter at the Managing Authority of the Programme Interreg Italy-Slovenia
