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
My first month as an IVY Project Partner
Hello everyone! My name is Irini and I am an IVY Volunteer at the SEACAP 4 SDG Project from the ENI CBC Med Programme at the University of Patras. It’s been an exciting month since I started as an IVY Project Partner and I am eager to share my experiences. The host organization team welcomed me warmly and informed me in every detail about the project I was going to participate in. SEACAP 4 SDG aims to address climate change adaptation and mitigation challenges in territories surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Specifically, the project focuses on implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in public buildings in France, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Spain and Tunisia. The main goal of SEACAP 4 SDG is to develop a unified strategy and evaluation framework that capitalizes on the results of reference projects, integrating Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SE(A)CAP) within a common vision. The project aims to establish uniform and adapted assessment methods and financing approaches to support sustainable development goals in the context of a smart society. In this way SEACAP 4 SDG will largely benefit public administration agents, energy agencies, actors in the building and construction sector and general public. As an IVY Project Partner in SEACAP 4 SDG, there are several roles and activities Ι engage in. I actively participate in collaborative workshops, and discussions, working alongside other project partners to define goals, strategies, and action plans. Also, I contribute my knowledge in areas related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development to find innovative solutions that can benefit the project. Additionally, I assist in the implementation of project activities assigned to the organization, which includes conducting research, collecting data and developing guidelines or frameworks. Moreover, I actively participate in efforts to raise awareness about the importance of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable development. To sum up being an IVY volunteer is an experience that I will remember throughout my life. Even though, it has been only a month that I am involved in this project, I have had the privilege of connecting with individuals from diverse countries and acquiring knowledge that will be a catalyst for my professional growth and development. – Irini, IVY Project Partner for the ENI CBC MED project “SEACAP 4 SDG” at the University of Patras. Discover more about the ENI CBC MED project “SEACAP 4 SDG” Click Here Discover more about our host organisation University of Patras Click Here
How to reinvent the futur of Europe
The main goal of AYCH (Atlantic Creative Youth Hubs) is to improve the cooperation between the Atlantic territories of Europe through the promotion of the youth entrepreneurship. The project is led by five countries (United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Portugal, and Spain) and it aims to exchange ideas and create new synergies that will help build the future of Europe. Us, the young people, are the main actors of this program, and it is up to us to make a difference and a real impact on our future. So far, we have organized different events online and in presence, that basically consist in Hackathons. These competitions provide us with the opportunity to enhance our team-working and intercultural skills, as well as to meet people from other countries and from different backgrounds. In fact, last May we had our biggest meeting in L’ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique, where people from up to 20 nationalities worked in teams for three days, to recreate our urban spaces in a sustainable and healthy way. As for my specific role in the project, I mainly help the Chamber of Commerce of Santiago de Compostela with the organization of the events. I also participate in the encounters as a mentor of the teams, in which my creative and innovative side is challenged. After the events, we make a summary of all the prototypes created by the participants and we offer them the chance to incubate them and make them real, which I believe is a crucial step. If we talk about what I like the most, that will be the creativity involving the process; the interesting ideas that can be created in such a short time just by gathering skills and perspective from such diverse people. This proves that together, different as we are, we can create the future of Europe together. – Sara, IVY Project Partner for the Interreg Atlantic Area project “AYCH” at the Chamber of Commerce of Santiago de Compostela. Discover more about the Interreg project AYCH Click Here Discover more about our host organisation Chamber of Commerce of Santiago de Compostela Click Here
