Young people for Mediterranean cooperation: meet Leonardo, Chirine, Davide and Michele
This article originally appeared on TESIM website.
Exactly two years ago the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) initiative managed by the Association of European Border Regions opened its doors to the ENI CBC community. Since then, despite the COVID-19 challenge, almost a dozen of volunteers have participated in ENI CBC projects, working both in the EU Member States and Partner Countries. As 2022 marks the European Year of Youth, we are happy to share the story of Leonardo, Chirine, Davide and Michele - who are or have been engaged in projects funded under the ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin programme - and highlight their IVY experience, best memories, and plans.
I started as volunteer, now I’m part of the team: Leonardo Galletti, Italy
“A French friend of mine by ERASMUS did an IVY for a Interreg Alcotra project in Turin, and that is how I got to know the IVY initiative… So, I decided to find a project coherent with my desire to develop project management skills in the social sphere. I checked all INTERREG/ENI CBC platforms and found the MYSEA project ("Mediterranean Youth, NEETs and women advancing Skills, Employment and Awareness in the blue and green economy"). As an IVY, I supported project management tasks – implementation of project activities, reporting, events organisation, communication, etc. It took me some time to find myself at ease among the several project management tools, procedures and documents. Fortunately, the staff helped me in the process! The MYSEA project has surely added valuable experience to my professional background: it allowed me to become part of the project team officially! I am currently covering the position of project data entry.”
The MYSEA project has surely added valuable experience to my professional background: it allowed me to become part of the project team officially!
"Each day you feel more empowered: it’s a life-changing opportunity": Chirine Ben Aissa,Tunisia
She is the first volunteer of the ENI CBC family to join a project: Chirine Ben Aissa is a determined, dynamic 26-year-old half-Tunisian half-Moroccan raised in Tunis, with a passion for civil society and a degree in natural science. After supporting small associations operating for women empowerment and gender equality, Chirine is today working at the National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies of Tunisia, where she stayed until 30 April 2021. The institute is partner of the Mediterranean Forum For Applied Ecosystem-Based Management (MED4EBM) project, financed by the EU in the framework of the ENI CBC MED programme.
"I’m a great supporter of cooperation in all senses; when you get close to the field where problems are, you can truly make the difference in people’s lives. You see the real meaning of the word “solidarity”. Here, local citizens will greatly benefit from the environmental improvement of their region. In the cross-border cooperation you have an additional dimension: the knowledge is shared from all partner countries; the common purpose is served from different perspective. You learn so much more… It is a life-changing experience."
Read the full story of Chrine here.
I would like to stay in the cross-border field. The value that different people from different countries bring to one’s experience is so special, so enriching. I was involved in cooperation before, but from a more homogeneous environment. What I really like here is this special touch, this exchange.
Understanding and adapting: my work abroad - Davide Renda, Italy
"How did I start? One of the partners in the MYSEA project – the Union Tunisienne de Solidarité Sociale – works closely with an association I had previously worked with in Tunisia, during my university internship. I saw the project as an important and promising prospect for my professional growth, so I decided to become a volunteer. I supported communication between the partner in Tunisia and CIES Onlus, the lead beneficiary. My colleagues in the host organization made me feel part of the team, they invited me to project meetings and events, they followed and adviced. Of course, volunteering in a foreign country implies understanding, accepting, and adapting to different approaches in daily work. This can be difficult, especially in the initial stages, when you work in close contact with people from cultural and educational backgrounds that may be radically different from your own. Overall, the skills and experience I have gained during these six months as an IVY are already proving to be extremely useful and valuable for the continuation of my career in the field of international cooperation."
Volunteering in a foreign country implies understanding, accepting, and adapting to different approaches in daily work.
You learn about the reality of the territory: Michele Virzi, Italy
“I’ve recently graduated from the University of Palermo. Through the university environment, I got to know the European Solidarity Corps initiative, and applied to Interreg Volunteer Youth. My university professor told me about the MYSEA project, for which I’m working right now. I perform various tasks, like data collection and analysis, the study of the project territories, the elaboration of graphs and tables, etc. Data collection has allowed me to create links with the territory, the people, and the economic realities of the whole region. The IVY experience is allowing me to grow professionally and to develop teamwork and problem-solving skills.”
The IVY experience is allowing me to grow professionally and to develop teamwork and problem-solving skills.
