Hello! My name is Francesca, I’m a 24-year-old master’s student from Italy, and I’m currently volunteering as an Interreg reporter at the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region within the Interreg Italy–Austria programme. When I started this journey, I didn’t fully realise how extensive European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) actually is. Now, I’m discovering it day by day and, most importantly, I’m seeing how EU cooperation and Cohesion policy really work in practice and how it can make a difference for local communities.

The main goal of the Interreg Italy–Austria programme is to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, especially in border areas. It supports projects in fields like innovation, sustainability, environmental protection, and culture. What I find particularly interesting is that these projects are not just abstract ideas—they are concrete initiatives that bring real benefits to people living in these regions, from better services to new opportunities for collaboration. In this context, the Regional Coordination Units play an important role at the local level. They act as a bridge between the programme and the territory: they support project partners, provide guidance throughout the project lifecycle, and help make information more accessible. Supporting the RCU in my region has allowed me to see this “behind the scenes” work, which is essential for making everything run smoothly.

This experience has given me the opportunity to engage with a wide range of projects and to see firsthand their impact across different sectors. As a volunteer, I mainly support communication and outreach activities. Over the past three months of my IVY journey, I have been involved in several activities aimed at promoting the programme. For instance, I contributed to organising an event for beneficiaries, explaining the procedures to follow after project approval and I have organised events at the University of Trieste and the University of Udine, where I presented European Territorial Cooperation with a focus on the Interreg Italy–Austria programme. Public speaking was initially challenging, but it helped me step out of my comfort zone and grow both personally and professionally. The positive feedback I received from students was particularly rewarding: many were unfamiliar with ETC, yet showed genuine interest and curiosity. It was also an opportunity to share my experience as an IVY volunteer and encourage others to explore similar paths. I’ve also had the opportunity to take part in several events, both within Interreg projects and in the wider context of European cooperation. These moments are always inspiring: you meet people who truly believe in what they do and are committed to building a more connected Europe.

One of the things I’ve learned is how important cooperation really is. Interreg projects bring together partners from different countries who work side by side, sharing ideas and building solutions together. It’s inspiring to see how collaboration across borders can lead to results that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. Looking back at these first months, I can say this experience has been both enriching and motivating. I would definitely recommend it to other young people. It’s a great way to understand how the EU works beyond theory, to gain practical skills, and to be part of something meaningful.