My name is Karolína, and I am currently volunteering with the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) initiative at the Joint Secretariat of the Interreg NEXT Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Programme, based in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. This Programme’s main goal is to promote cross-border cooperation for a Resilient and Green Border Region, a Healthy and Attractive Border Region, and a Cooperating Border Region. The regions involved include parts of Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine, all of which benefit from improved environmental conditions, economic development, and strengthened partnerships. The total cooperation area covers 83,057 km², which is comparable to the size of Austria.
Our Programme operates within a unique and challenging area, especially given the current war in Ukraine. This situation complicates many aspects, including organising in-person events or inviting representatives from all participating countries. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to our mission of fostering collaboration and development.
As part of the consultation process for the Post-2027 Interreg programmes, one of our key responsibilities is to host information sessions and workshops at universities within the HUSKROUA programme area. These events allowed students to not only receive updates on cross-border cooperation but also voice their opinions on the future of such collaborations, which are highly relevant to their generation. Our goal was to visit universities (and also one high school) in every participating country, we visited Centrul Universitar Nord din Baia Mare in Romania, Gymnázium Poštová 9 and Katedra politológie FF Univerzita Pavla Jozefa Šafárika in Slovakia, Miskolci Egyetem and Nyíregyházi Egyetem in Hungary and Uzhhorod National University in Ukraine, introducing the Programme’s work, encouraging participation in surveys, and raising awareness of the IVY initiative, which offered valuable opportunities for young people to gain insights into the workings of Interreg and cross-border cooperation addressed by their own age group. With these events I was able to connect with diverse communities and hear the opinions of youth across the borders. Raising awareness of Interreg’s work and the opportunities it offers will remain one of my main goals as an IVY volunteer.
What I enjoy most is the opportunity to see how cooperation across borders can drive positive change, even in challenging circumstances. It’s inspiring to witness how communities come together to overcome shared obstacles and work towards a brighter, more sustainable future. Being part of this process not only broadens my perspective but also reinforces the power of collective action in addressing global challenges.
– Karolína, IVY Reporter at Joint Secretariat of the Interreg NEXT Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Programme
