Between 4 and 6 November 2020, the Secretariat of the Adriatic Ionian Euroregion will participate in the AEBR Annual Events. The events include the AEBR Cross-Border School (4th of November 2020) and AEBR Annual Conference (5th and 6th of November 2020). More information can be found at this link.
The AEBR, acronym of Association of European Border Regions, is among other things the coordinating organisation of the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) Initiative, to which the AIE has adhered as of this year. The initiative was launched in 2017 by the European Commission in the framework of the European Solidarity Corps. It supports organisations that implement cross-border, transnational and inter-regional programs and projects in welcoming young volunteers (citizens aged between 18 and 30 years old).
The AIE has always emphasised the role of youth and the benefit of a more active and meaningful participation of young people in democratic life. In the last 10 years, in collaboration with its members and stakeholders, it has provided something like 40 young people with internship positions and involved youth and youth organisations in cooperation activities.
Between 2018 and 2019, the Association has made quite an effort in designing and implementing projects focused on youth skills development, participation and cooperation. The Interreg Italy-Croatia BLUE KEP project developed and implemented an international exchange programme between 12 Italian and Croatian nautical and technical secondary schools, directly involving 38 students and their teachers in a 45-days long mobility. The programme also saw the participation of more than 20 Italian and Croatian companies of the blue sector, which offered hands-on training opportunities to all involved students.
As part of the AI-NURECC Initiative’s Youth Action, the AIE focused its attention on youth participation and cooperation in the context of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic Ionian Region (EUSAIR). To this end, the Association organised the First Adriatic Ionian Youth Organisations Forum (AIYOF) in Tirana on 19 November 2019. The Forum laid down the foundations for a deeper and more structured dialogue between youth and youth organisations and decision-makers of the area. Its results, which were synthetised in a study, will inspire the actions of the Association in the months and years ahead.
Thanks to the adhesion with the IVY, the AIE is involving two Italian young volunteers as Interreg Project Partners. As of 14 September 2020 and up until February 2021, Mr. Alfredo Marini will support the Secretariat of the AIE in implementing and communicating the results of the Interreg MED Sustainable Tourism project and in developing the Association’s communication strategy as well. At the end of his six months experience, Ms Marika Spirito will follow-up.
The two volunteers will participate in the AEBR Annual Events.
