The YESVolunteer 2nd interregional study visit and project meeting took place from 2nd to 5th of December in the city of Genoa, bringing together passionate individuals and organisations dedicated to enhancing volunteering opportunities across Europe.
Over the four-day event, representatives from seven European regions, including local authorities, civic service leaders, and young volunteers, effectively collaborated towards enhancing volunteering opportunities for rural and disadvantaged youth, aiming to promote their personal and professional growth.
Organised and hosted by Anci Liguria region in Genoa, the event featured partners’ presentations with results from their local workshops, study visits, civic engagement meetings, workshops for exchanging volunteer practices and experiences, and strategic sessions focused on identifying barriers and creating volunteering opportunities in a more social Europe.
The meetings and study visits were addressed in Anci Liguria by General Director Pierluigi Vinai, Anci Vice President and Delegate for the Civil Service Claudio Scajola, Regional Councillor for Youth Policies Simona Ferro, and Anci Giovane Liguria Coordinator Francesca Corso, who is also a Councillor of the Municipality of Genoa. In Busalla, they were addressed by Regional General Director Pierluigi Vinai, Mayor Loris Maieron, and Councillor Laura Repetto.
Delegates engaged in meaningful discussions and shared insights, resulting in a summary of key themes and conclusions regarding:
- Strategies for developing engagement pathways for young people with fewer opportunities, particularly NEETs (young people not in education, employment, or training) and Youth With Fewer Opportunities (YWFO)
- Discovering financial support through European programmes
- Enhancing community involvement and tailoring strategies to meet local needs
- The need to reduce bureaucratic barriers to volunteerism across regions
- The importance of establishing long-term partnerships with youth organisations to create a robust volunteer ecosystem across Europe
The partnership established new goals and scheduled their next meeting for early 2025 in Poland to implement the 3rd YESVolunteer interregional meeting.
Join us in promoting youth personal and professional growth through better volunteering opportunities!
Discover more about the YESVolunteer project at: https://www.interregeurope.eu/yesvolunteer
About YES Volunteer: YESVolunteer is a European project designed to empower young people (aged 18-30) through enriched civic engagement and volunteer opportunities. It seeks to address barriers to youth professionalisation and inclusion by improving policy tools, facilitating cross-regional cooperation, and adapting best practices to meet diverse local needs. YESVolunteer is focused on fostering equitable opportunities for rural youth and providing pathways for underrepresented groups, such as NEETs and YWFO, to gain professional skills and contribute positively to their communities.
