A dive into the Interreg Euro-MED Programme: being an IVY at the italian National Contact Point
It has been a couple months since I stepped into the communication office at the Italian National Contact Point of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, and here’s a glimpse of what I’ve had the chance to experience up to now. The Interreg Euro-MED Programme brings together 16 countries of the Mediterranean region with the aim of contributing to the transition towards a climate-neutral and resilient society, while improving governance between its stakeholders. It does so by providing funds to projects which focus on 4 different missions, namely Strengthening an innovative sustainable economy, Valorising the natural environment and heritage, Promoting green living areas and Enhancing sustainable tourism. Project partnerships necessarily have to involve at least 4 different countries, in the spirit of cooperation and transnationality. This results in unique projects drawing together far away but similar territories that share common challenges and make a joint effort to find sustainable solutions. Providing representative examples of Euro-MED projects is not easy, as they really operate in multiple and diverse fields and involve different partners and beneficiaries (research institutes, universities, entrepreneurs, civil society and many others). Euro-MED is the new sustainable public transport in your city, it is behind the new floods risk prevention strategy of your region, it is a project on wind marine energy, but also on restoration of seagrass, carbon removal, and the driving force of the new Renewable energy community in a marginalized neighborhood, and possibly an innovative platform to manage tourism flows on your favorite beaches, just to name a few. Here at the Euro-MED National Contact Point Italia, in Florence (Regione Toscana), we provide support and guidance to Italian applicants and project partners, and we are involved in every strategic step of the programme. But who am I and how do I contribute? My name is Maya and I’m a 24 years old graduate in International Relations, with a strong passion for climate justice and environment protection, who aspires to work on climate change governance, storytelling and hopefully soon take part in significant initiatives that take concrete action to bring about a needed paradigm shift. My role as an IVY Reporter here at the Euro-MED NCP Italy is to contribute to the communication activities and support the capitalization process. Actually, before entering this world I didn’t even know what capitalisation (which is the transfer and sharing of knowledge and good practices/solutions) was, while now I believe it is one of the most fascinating aspects of cooperation. Communicating on the programme means I need to be aware of everything that is going on, from decisional processes, ‘high level’ seminars, citizens consultation and projects description; which enables me to constantly learn something new on communication tools and strategies but most of all about how European cooperation works, while discovering the latest innovations and projects to tackle climate change. I manage social media accounts and website, write newsletters, prepare summary documents and take part in programme initiatives, such as the Multiprogramme mechanism, which we are currently shaping together with other Interreg Programmes. Moreover, my colleagues are young people I can relate with but also learn from, and I am so lucky to be doing my IVY experience together with not 1, not 2 but 3 other IVYs that are deployed here at Regione Toscana working on other Programmes. Interreg Volunteer Youth gave me the hands-on experience I was looking for and enabled me to put in practice skills learned during my study years and work in an enriching environment. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, which I believe to be an empowering, affordable and most of all needed and unique way for every young person willing to take the first steps in the field of cooperation and the working world. I’m looking forward to the months to come! – Maya, IVY Reporter for the Italian National Contact Point of the Interreg Euro-MED programme Discover more about the Interreg programme Euro-MED Click Here
Life as: an IVY Volunteer @Managing Authority INTERREG 2021-2027
Hey everyone! I am Maria, a 23 year-old Greek IVY Volunteer. My volunteer experience is based in my hometown Thessaloniki, Greece where I volunteer for the Managing Authority (MA) INTERREG 2021-2027, as an Interreg Reporter. Let me walk you through my first month of volunteering. So, for starters, The Managing Authority (MA) INTERREG 2021-2027, based in Thessaloniki – Greece, manages and monitors European Territorial Cooperation (INTERREG) Programmes. The Programmes aim to address common cross-border and transnational challenges, support synergies through joint partnerships and consolidate strong cooperation with a view to enable a balanced, economic, social and spatial development at European level. It is involved with projects including North Macedonia, Albania, Italy, Cyprus, Bulgaria and is included in bigger ones concerning the Adriatic, Mediterranean, Black Sea and European regions. My role in this is to help with communication activities, such as email and social media marketing, photo and video editing as well as to assist with events. I would like to believe that my background in political science and communications has made me a contributing member of the team that is able to assist in multiple activities. I am, certainly, thankful to get to experience an intensive and versatile work environment, where I can be creative and free to suggest alternatives to already established practices. Thankfully my mentor is a great professional, who gives me the opportunity to be involved in everything I like, provides me with flexibility and is interested in my views and feedback. It happens so, that I have been added as a member of the Authority’s team for its representation at the Thessaloniki International Fair. The Thessaloniki Internationl Fair (TIF) is an annual trade fair held in Thessaloniki, Greece. It is the largest and most important trade fair in Greece, and it attracts exhibitors from over 50 countries. The fair showcases the latest products and technologies from a wide range of industries, including food and beverages, agriculture, machinery, tourism, and energy. The 87th TIF is being held from September 9 to 17, 2023, and the honored country is Bulgaria. You would find us in Pavillion 15, alongside other authorities and institutions from Ministry of Economics, informing beneficiaries regarding various opportunities provided by the National Strategic Reference Framework, a funding program from the European Union that supports Greece’s economic development and social cohesion. As someone, who has been living in Thessaloniki the last 6 years and has been in the fair multiple times, it has been extremely interesting experiencing it from another point of view. My overall experience has been fulfilling and with each passing day, my enthusiasm grows, and I eagerly anticipate inventing ways to make a positive impact in the months to come. As an individual interested in my region, I am grateful that I can witness projects being made from scratch and experience the hard work and dedication, something extremely simple and unimportant to a participant, requires. Becoming a part of this project has proven to be an immensely purposeful choice. It not only grants me the opportunity to attain fresh practical skills but also engrosses me within an entirely novel setting, featuring new coworkers, an unfamiliar environment, and distinct working culture. All in all, I sense a profound enrichment both in my professional and personal capabilities. I get to learn new things everyday and that is the highest reward. – Maria-Parthena, IVY Reporter at the Managing Authority “Interreg Greece 2021-2027” Discover more about the Interreg Greece 2021-2027 Click Here
My volunteering experience in Madeira
Olá a todos! Hi everyone! My name is João, I´m 23 years old and I am a Portuguese IVY Volunteer for the Interreg MAC project IMPLAMAC at Direção Regional do Mar in Madeira. This project aims to evaluate, with a common methodology, the microplastics abundance in different species of characteristic fish in the Macaronesian region. Results obtained will allow identify and quantifying the microplastics ingestion in the study area. Another big objective of the project is to involve the different populations, by presenting the results at schools or by them helping in some field work improving ocean literacy among these places. I am currently helping in the project by doing laboratory work, sampling, filtrations, and identification of microplastics, updating and creating new data bases and engaging in discussions of how can this data be used to improve cooperation and common strategies between countries in attacking the major problem that is plastic waste in our oceans. I´m extremely happy and thankful for the opportunity given by IVY and Direção Regional do Mar, who have been tremendously welcoming. The experience gave me the chance to develop my skills as a biologist, getting to know people with different backgrounds that contribute for me to open my horizons and open new opportunities for the future. This is an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life and I strongly encourage everyone to try it out, you surely won´t regret it! – João, IVY Project Partner for the Interreg Madeira-Azores-Canarias project “IMPLAMAC” at Direção Regional do Mar Discover more about the Interreg project IMPLAMAC Click Here Discover more about our host organisation Direção Regional do Mar Click Here
My first months as an volunteer for “Community4Innovation”
Greetings to everyone! I am Ioannis, I am from Greece and I am volunteering in Athens for the Interreg Euro-MED “Community4Innovation” project. For the past two months I have been an IVY Project Partner at Dynamic Vision, where I was warmly welcomed, and I already have so much to share with fellow volunteers. Community4Innovation is a Thematic Community Project, one of the two governance projects contributing to the goals of the Innovative Sustainable Economy Mission of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme. Community4Innovation aims at enhancing research and innovation capacities for the uptake of technologies in order to support the transition to a circular economy and consolidate a competitive innovation ecosystem. Therefore, it acts as an engaged and structured community that improves collaboration among projects, stakeholders, and relevant institutions to find solutions for common challenges and promote the transfer of novel practices to other actors and territories for their integration into policies and strategies. My host organisation is currently leading activities mainly focused on establishing the conditions for effective identification, sharing and reuse of knowledge coming from projects related to Innovative Sustainable Economy through the mapping of potential target groups, stakeholders, networks, and innovative projects and through compiling solutions to be included in an interactive catalogue. During these two months I am supporting the implementation of these activities through desk research and by providing my view from the youth perspective on the assessed results. In parallel, I have an active role in the preparation of a youth session tackling the topic of innovative sustainable economy, organised as part of the project in the frame of a major event taking place in Athens. My volunteering experience and involvement in Community4Ιnnovation has been highly rewarding for me, and I have managed to gain several skills despite its yet short period. I have gained significant information on all the complicated steps necessary for territorial cooperation to be established which has made me realise its importance and necessity for every citizen. Overall, my communication and cooperation skills have been improved and I have gained unique experiences that can prove useful in my future steps. – Ioannis, IVY Project Partner for the Interreg Euro-Med project “Community4Innovation” at Dynamic Vision. Discover more about the Interreg project Community4Innovation Click Here Discover more about our host organisation Dynamic Vision P.C. Click Here
Being a volunteer for the ENI CBC MED project ENSERES
Hola! I’m Farah Mejri, a 22-year-old Tunisian volunteer participating in the ENSERES project as an IVY volunteer. This incredible initiative stands for “Enhancing Socio-Ecological Resilience in Mediterranean Coastal Areas.” It’s all about tackling the pressures that overexploitation, population growth, governance, and climate change exert on the Mediterranean coastal and marine areas, endangering biodiversity and the Mediterranean lifestyle. Our goal is to promote sustainable practices and protect vulnerable areas while boosting the local economy. To achieve this, we use ecosystem-based management approaches, which strengthen both social and ecological resilience. The ENSERES project implements transformative governance mechanisms and engages communities to improve people’s lives and nature. As part of my role, I’m involved in increasing the project’s visibility and communication on social media. I create visual posters, translate the project’s catalogue and news, and support its overall promotion. It’s truly rewarding to contribute to such a meaningful cause. By sharing my experiences as an IVY volunteer, I aim to raise awareness about the Interreg program and showcase the cooperation within the EU. I’ve gained valuable insights into the EU’s Cohesion Policy, learned about various projects, and witnessed firsthand how they support local communities across Europe. It’s important to spread the word and let others know about the EU’s positive impact in our area. The ENSERES project has a significant mission. Its main goal is to mainstream ecosystem-based management tools in Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) processes. It strives to preserve coastal and marine ecosystems, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for coastal urban communities. The project’s beneficiaries include national and local public authorities, Marine Protected Areas stakeholders, civil society organizations, small-scale local companies, national and sub-regional thematic MPA networks, as well as EU and Mediterranean authorities and agencies. Through collaboration and cooperation, project partners work together to implement the necessary changes and achieve our objectives. My involvement in the ENSERES project has been personally rewarding, contributing to my personal growth, skill development, and knowledge about the environment. Attending workshops and witnessing project progress in Sfax has been inspiring. It has also instilled values of solidarity through collaboration with like-minded individuals. Overall, the ENSERES project has provided me with valuable experiences and contributed to my personal and professional development. – Farah, IVY Project Partner for the ENI CBC MED project “ENSERES” at European Topic Centre of the University of Malaga Discover more about the ENI CBC MED project “ENSERES” Click Here Discover more about our host organisation European Topic Centre – University of Malaga Click Here
My first two months as an IVY Volunteer in Slovenia
Hello everyone, or as Slovenes would say, zdravo! My name is Chiara, and I’m from Italy. Currently, I am an IVY Project Partner for the H2MA project from the INTERREG Alpine Space programme. I have been living in Velenje, a small city in the center of Slovenia, for the past two months. My hosting organization is the leading partner of this project, an important energy agency in the country that is focused on the future development of the European green transition. The H2MA project, which stands for “Green Hydrogen Mobility for Alpine Region Transportation,” aims to accelerate the development of green hydrogen mobility infrastructure in the Alpine region. Its goal is to reduce CO2 emissions and promote the transition to low-carbon transport. The project partners represent all the European countries that share the beautiful Alpine area. Through cooperation, strategic planning, and allocation of resources, the project aims to enhance the capabilities of territorial public authorities and stakeholders to collaboratively plan and test zero-emission hydrogen routes across the Alps. The ultimate aim of the project H2MA is to improve the governance of green hydrogen mobility, facilitate the adoption of green hydrogen for heavy transport, unlock green financing opportunities, and strengthen the cooperation framework between public authorities and companies involved in green hydrogen mobility. The project has a duration of three years divided into six periods, and I joined during the second period as an IVY Project Partner. In this role, I support my hosting organization in both internal and external communication aspects of the project. I stay in touch with all the partners, gather updates from them, and share important news on social media platforms to spread awareness about the project. I also participate in monthly online meetings to stay updated and collaborate on the next steps within the consortium. Joining this project has been a meaningful decision for me. Not only does it allow me to acquire new practical skills, but it also immerses me in a completely new environment with new colleagues, a different country, and culture. Overall, I feel enriched from both a professional and a human perspective. After these two months, I have the sense that there is still much more to come. We have two upcoming meetings where I will finally have the opportunity to meet all the partners I have only seen through online video calls. I am eagerly looking forward to it! – Chiara, IVY Project Partner for the Interreg Alpine Space project H2MA at Energy Agency of Savinjska, Šaleška and Koroška region (KSSENA). Discover more about the Interreg project H2MA Click Here Discover more about our host organisation Energy Agency of Savinjska, Šaleška and Koroška region (KSSENA) Click Here
