Hi, my name is Vojtěch, I am 26 years old and I am volunteering through the IVY programme at the host organisation Euregio Egrensis in the Czech Republic.

My volunteering experience is connected to the project “Neighbour’s Language from the Start”, which focuses on supporting cross-border cooperation between Czech and German kindergartens. The project aims to introduce children to the language of the neighbouring country from an early age and to integrate language activities into the everyday life of kindergartens.

The idea behind the project is that children become familiar with a language most naturally through authentic and everyday situations. It is therefore not only about learning individual words, but also about coming into contact with the culture, traditions and environment of the neighbouring country. In this way, children can gain their first personal experiences with the cross-border environment from an early age and learn to perceive the neighbouring country as a natural part of the region in which they live.

The project involves five kindergartens on the Czech side and five institutions on the German side. On the Czech side, the participating kindergartens are located in Cheb, Sokolov, Kraslice, Skalná and Luby. On the German side, the participating institutions are Kita Quellenzwerge Bad Brambach, Kita Sonnenblick Wohlhausen, Kita Sonnenschein Klingenthal, Kita Juniorkiste Eichigt and Kita Marieney. The project therefore creates a common framework for cooperation between preschool institutions on both sides of the Saxon-Czech border.

Since the beginning of my placement, I have had the opportunity to observe how cross-border cooperation works in practice. As part of the project activities and its documentation, I have visited all participating kindergartens on the Czech side and observed language animations in different educational environments. Each kindergarten has its own atmosphere, way of working and group dynamics, which has allowed me to notice how differently children can respond to activities connected to the language of the neighbouring country.

An important part of the project is not only the language activities in kindergartens, but also cultural events, meetings with partners and the involvement of parents. Thanks to this, the project does not remain limited to individual kindergartens, but creates a broader space for meeting, sharing experiences and building relationships between people on both sides of the border.

The support provided by the host organisation Euregio Egrensis has also played an important role in my volunteering experience. From the beginning, the project goals, activities and broader context were clearly introduced to me. This made it easier for me to become involved in an already established project and to gradually understand how individual activities contribute to its overall objectives.

One of the most interesting aspects of this experience for me is seeing that cross-border cooperation becomes real not only at the level of institutions and project documents, but above all through everyday activities. Even simple language games, shared experiences or meetings can contribute to openness, understanding and a natural relationship with the neighbouring country.

Being involved in this project also allows me to better understand the importance of European territorial cooperation and the role of initiatives such as Interreg and IVY in supporting local communities. The project shows that international cooperation can take a very concrete form and have a visible impact directly in regions, schools and among the youngest generation.

Through this volunteering experience, I am gaining valuable insight into the implementation of a cross-border project, cooperation between partners and the practical benefits of Czech-German initiatives. It is motivating to see how a project developed at the European level can support concrete activities in local communities and contribute to long-term connections between people on both sides of the border.

I am glad to be part of a project that supports cooperation, openness and creates opportunities for meeting and connecting from an early age.