My IVY Experience
Hello IVY community! My name is Konstantinos, and I come from Greece. I am currently volunteering as an IVY at the University of Western Macedonia. My host organization is participating in the URBANFLOODS project, an initiative funded by the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme. The goal of this project is to increase the Adriatic-Ionian region’s urban resilience to flood risks. The URBANFLOODS project is promoting urban resilience through an integrated advanced decision support system (DSS) for flood management. With this system, we can enhance flood preparedness by assisting Municipalities, Regional Authorities, and Civil Protection agencies in making fast and effective decisions before flood emergencies happen. Today’s ever-increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, increases the demand for international consortiums and projects that can mitigate flood hazards and protect local communities. The Project brings together 11 partners and 11 associated partners from 8 countries: Albania, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia. The University of Western Macedonia acts as the Lead Partner, coordinating the overall implementation of the project and ensuring smooth collaboration among all participating institutions. As an IVY volunteer, I contribute to the communication and stakeholder engagement activities of the URBANFLOODS project, which promotes cross-border cooperation to enhance flood resilience in the Adriatic-Ionian region. My responsibilities include supporting the dissemination of project outcomes, helping organise events, and raising awareness about the project’s goals among local communities and stakeholders. A highlight of my volunteering experience has been stepping out of my comfort zone and engaging in a truly international environment. Working alongside partners from different countries has helped me better understand the value of cooperation and solidarity in addressing shared challenges. It’s a unique opportunity that has broadened my perspective and helped me grow both personally and professionally. The project will help local communities, municipalities, policy makers, and emergency services implement timely and effective flood mitigation strategies, ultimately protecting lives, infrastructure, and the environment. Taking part in the URBANFLOODS has been an incredible experience for me. I have gained knowledge into environmental risk management, European territorial cooperation, cohesion policy, and the importance of transnational partnerships. I also had the chance to work and engage with experts from different fields and contribute to a project that has a real impact on people’s lives. I am grateful to the IVY programme for giving me this opportunity and to the University of Western Macedonia for their guidance and support. I encourage young people to explore IVY programs and discover the many ways they can contribute to European cooperation and sustainability. – Konstantinos, IVY Project Partner for the Interreg project URBANFLOODS Discover more about URBANFLOODS Click Here Discover more about Interreg IPA Adrion Click Here
My IVY Experience
I’m Flavia, a volunteer in the CO2 PACMAN project. I’m physically located in my own country, Italy, but I’m mentally throughout the Mediterranean! The project, in fact, aims to decarbonize Mediterranean islands, with Brac, Crete, and Elba serving as pilot sites. Partners from seven countries are working together toward this goal, driven by a fundamental principle: a shared sense of responsibility and commitment to community values that unites and strengthens these efforts. This is also what drives me, or I should say us, as volunteers. We work together, never alone, to build a shared future, and through instruments like Interreg, I’ve come to realize the incredible potential we hold in our hands. From the beginning of my volunteering experience, my mentor’s priority has been to involve me in meetings and activities, allowing me to understand directly how the project works and what it means to engage with the project partners. This has given me a comprehensive understanding of roles, responsibilities and opportunities – an invaluable experience considering my deep interest in European affairs. One of the greatest moments of my journey was to participate in the project’s “Rooting Lab” in Elba and Florence, a three-day event which I partly helped to organize. Here, project partners met local businesses, authorities, and citizens to discuss concrete strategies for the ecological transition. Attending this event was incredibly enriching: it allowed me to interact with some of the stakeholders and understand the locals’ different perspectives on decarbonization. A key part of CO2 PACMAN is citizen engagement, and I had the privilege of contributing by inviting Silvia Moroni, a sustainability expert and advocate, well known in Italy for her project “Parla Sostenibile”. In Portoferraio (Elba), she brought people together in an engaging discussion that made sustainability relatable and accessible. Being surrounded by such motivated individuals and promising discussions, I truly felt like an active citizen, advocating for the project’s goals of decarbonization and sustainability. This has not only reinforced my commitment to climate action but also deepened my connection to the European vision of cooperation. I also feel incredibly lucky to be hosted by the Ecodynamics Group of the University of Siena, a multidisciplinary team of researchers dedicated to building a prosperous, and at the same time sustainable, society. Being part of this environment has made my experience even more inspiring! Among the things I’m most proud of is the realization of a podcast episode that I recorded within the already existing podcast “CO2 PACMAN”. You can listen to it here to learn more about my volunteering experience and the project itself – it is available in Italian too. Through this, I hope to inspire listeners and young people to embrace the power of cooperation. Additionally, I contributed developing an educational board game designed to engage high school students in exploring strategies to reduce CO2 emissions in an entertaining way. In particular, I designed the game board’s graphics and I tested gameplay mechanics with a team responsible for the activities to be carried out with the students. The game has then proven to be an effective tool for educating and involving young people. I think every small contribution I made helped advance IVY’s mission of fostering youth engagement in European cooperation projects. Looking back on these months as a volunteer, I see how much this experience has shaped me. It has given me the chance to contribute, learn, and connect with amazing people. – Flavia, IVY Project Partner for Interreg Project CO2 Pacman at University of Siena Discover more about CO2 Pacman Click Here Discover more about CO2 Pacman Click Here
My Journey as an Interreg Volunteer at IUCN Med: Conservation & Collaboration
Joining the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) initiative has been a transformative experience for me over the past two months. As a volunteer at IUCN’s Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med), I have been contributing to the Dialogue4Nature project, an integral part of the Natural Heritage Mission within the Interreg Euro-MED Programme. This project aims to foster cooperation among diverse stakeholders to protect and promote the unique natural heritage of the Mediterranean region. One of the most exciting aspects of my experience so far has been supporting the communication efforts for the Institutional Dialogue event held in Málaga. This event brought together key stakeholders such as the European Commission, the Union for the Mediterranean and UNEP/MAP SPA-RAC, among others, to discuss strategies for enhancing the protection of natural heritage and particularly about marine and coastal restoration. My role included attending communication meetings for the project and the Mission, assisting with the organization of the Institutional Dialogue event and the setup of the event spot (IEO Málaga), as well as supporting the IUCN Med communication team with social media, news on the website of both IUCN Med and the Mission’s, preparing a yearly policy calendar so anyone in the event could write down and share interesting dates, and ensuring the project’s messages reached a broader audience. It was inspiring to see how collaboration and dialogue can drive positive change. Through this opportunity, I have gained a deeper understanding of how EU-funded projects operate and the significant role of Cohesion Policy in supporting sustainable development. Working on Dialogue4Nature has shown me the power of teamwork in tackling shared challenges like biodiversity loss and climate change. Additionally, I have been developing valuable skills in communication and storytelling, which are essential for raising awareness about environmental issues. Being an IVY volunteer has been incredibly rewarding so far. It feels meaningful to contribute to a project that not only protects our natural environment but also strengthens cooperation across borders. This experience is teaching me the importance of collective action and inspiring me to continue advocating for environmental conservation. I’m grateful for this opportunity and hope my story encourages others to engage with EU initiatives and have an IVY experience like mine. – Marina, IVY Project Partner at Interreg project Dialogue4Nature Discover more about Interreg Euro-MED Click Here
My IVY Experience
Hello everyone! I’m Dimitra and I’m currently volunteering as a project partner at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki on the Interreg project “MARMAPS – Open environmental eFolio for joint maritime spatial planning and conservation of the valuable Black Sea Basin marine ecosystems”, under the programme Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin. MARMAPs’ objective is to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the Black Sea’s unique ecosystems. We aim to engage people in developing a Decision Support System (DSS) for maritime spatial planning, helping to guide conservation and restoration efforts for marine biodiversity. We also want to improve access to the DSS through eFolio, involve stakeholders in training sessions to promote conservation planning for marine protected areas, and explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration. In this exciting project, I have the chance to collaborate with partners from the Black Sea NGO Network (Bulgaria), Mare Nostrum NGO (Romania) and the Black Sea Branch of Ukrainian Environmental Academy of Sciences (Ukraine). I work on simplifying complex ideas into clear messages and sharing them through platforms like social media, videos, and online forums. A big part of my work involves connecting with students and young people in and outside the AUTh campus, encouraging them to see the importance of protecting the Black Sea. Currently, I’m working on creative initiatives like the MARMAPS photo contest, brainstorming ways to raise awareness in fun and interactive ways through social media. As a biologist, volunteering with IVY on a project that focuses on conservation and protecting the environment means a lot to me and it has helped me understand more about what I want to do in the future, all while knowing both the IVY team and my mentor will help with anything I may need. Every day, I learn more about marine conservation and the power of cooperation, and I’m excited to keep contributing! – Dimitra, IVY Project Partner for Interreg Project MARMAPS at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Discover more about Interreg MARMAPS Project Click Here Discover more about Interreg Black Sea Basin Click Here
My IVY Experience at URBACT
It all began with a communication campaign celebrating the newly awarded 116 URBACT Good Practices. Through this, I gradually gained insights into the URBACT programme and its impact on cities across Europe. Just as I started my IVY volunteering experience, where my primary role was to support the communications unit, the 2024 URBACT Good Practices were set to receive their label. As a newcomer, getting to know these initiatives while assisting with their communication efforts was an incredible introduction to the diversity of cities, regions, and municipalities, as well as the vast range of urban development topics within the URBACT programme. When the initiatives were notified of their Good Practice label, they also received communication support, including visual designs and access to a dedicated forum where they could discuss strategies for promoting their work. The 2024 cohort consists of initiatives from 25 different countries, awarded the URBACT Good Practice label following the decision of URBACT’s Monitoring Committee in October 2024. Beyond recognition, these initiatives will be promoted and invited to the biggest URBACT event of the year – the URBACT City Festival in Wrocław, Poland. The Secretariat is now planning for this festival which will highlight these newly awarded Good Practices, providing representatives from the initiatives and other cities with an ideal setting for proactive networking. The goal is for these Good Practices to inspire the creation of Transfer Networks, allowing cities to share and adapt these innovative initiatives. With URBACT funding, participating cities will have the opportunity to visit and collaborate within these networks. For over 20 years, URBACT has been supporting cities and local stakeholders, creating platforms like the URBACT City Festival for urban practitioners to exchange experiences and develop integrated, inclusive, and sustainable urban solutions. What stands out to me the most is URBACT’s commitment to funding a wide range of urban development initiatives within a bottom-up framework. All EU cities, as well as partners from Norway and Switzerland, can benefit from URBACT’s capacity-building activities or join an URBACT network. Whether by participating in a Transfer Network, learning from a designated Good Practice, or co-producing local Integrated Action Plans through Action Planning Networks, URBACT fosters collaboration to tackle shared urban challenges. From the beginning, I was struck by the level of support cities receive, not just from my colleagues in the communications unit but even more so from those in the project-focused team. With that in mind, I proposed creating an ‘URBACT Behind the Scenes’ video to showcase the Secretariat’s work and how it all comes together in practice. The video will be released soon on URBACT’s social channels, so stay tuned! There is so much more I could share about my experience, including my trip to the EU City Lab in Bucharest, co-organised by URBACT and the European Urban Initiative. But that’s a story for another time… Sunny but cold greetings from Paris and the URBACT Secretariat! – Julia, IVY Reporter at URBACT Discover more about Interreg URBACT Click Here
“Going borderless” while shaping a better tomorrow in the crossborder territory between Italy and Slovenia
Dear all readers; I’m Carlotta, a 24-years-old master degree student and IVY Volunteer at the Interreg Programme Italia-Slovenia Joint Secretariat offices in Trieste/Trst. It’s already been three months since the beginning of my experience, thus I feel like I can present to you what such volunteering experience entails. I’ve been assigned to the communication and joint secretariat office, where a team of young people and regional policy officers welcomed me warmly. Almost all the members of the staff are bilingual (italo-slovenian) and for me it’s such an interesting reality to discover day by day. Not being a local (I was born and raised in Venice), I already got the chance to live in this cross-border territory when I was studying for my bachelor degree in Gorizia/Nova Gorica so I was acquainted with the culture and the language even tho Slovenian is no joke to learn from an Italian native speaker. I’ve already reached the first half of my programmed period of volunteering and these months passed by so quickly. Nonetheless I got already so many opportunities to expand my network during all the international meetings that I’ve attended and to enhance my expertise in communication duties. I started my experience strong attending on the first three days of work the Monitoring Committee activites in Venice: my very first occasion to meet my working team and to help them with the event orgranizaion duties. The week after, I got invited to Brussels for the European Week of Regions and Cities, where I also met the AEBR Team. During those days my Program hosted the first ever multi-Program event to enhance a further collaboration among three countries (Italy, Slovenija and Croatia) and between two Programmes: Interreg Italia-Slovenija and Interreg Italy-Croatia. The meetings and the activities have been so succesful that proposals of enhanced cooperation projects have been made on that very day. My volunteering experience was also higlighted by the presence of two EU Commission’s rapporteurs that came for 3 days from Brussels to the Program Area in order to visit the places and the venues where the most important meetings and activities of Gorizia-Nova Gorica Capital of Culture 2025 will take place. I travelled across the cross-border area between Italy and Slovenia, realizing even further all the characteristics of the territory and getting to know some of my future main activities to organize such as the InterregGO Annual Event for youth of March 2025 (don’t forget to come, guys!). I can not miss to mention that beside the very dynamic activities that I’ve described, a lot of time in the months of December and January was also dedicated to fully understand how to write and post an article on our online platforms and to create by scratch new leaflets and booklets describing in detail the projects participating in the Programme. This very experience, even if it’s not my first time being part of an international office thematized on European funds’ administration policies, is making me acquire so many technical and relational skills that for sure will be important and helpful in my near future. I am already recommending to sign up as volunteers to all of my closer friends looking for a valuable opportunity, given my very positive opinion about my work. Last but not least, being an IVY, beside providing you with valuable experiences enriching your CV, has a strong positive impact on your local reality helping promoting cooperation while actively participating in shaping a common future useful for us, young people, to be the lead characters of EU’s cooperation policies. – Carlotta, IVY Reporter for the Interreg Programme Italia-Slovenia at the Joint Secretariat Discover more about Interreg Italy-Slovenia Click Here
