Joining the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) initiative has been a transformative experience for me over the past two months. As a volunteer at IUCN’s Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med), I have been contributing to the Dialogue4Nature project, an integral part of the Natural Heritage Mission within the Interreg Euro-MED Programme. This project aims to foster cooperation among diverse stakeholders to protect and promote the unique natural heritage of the Mediterranean region.
One of the most exciting aspects of my experience so far has been supporting the communication efforts for the Institutional Dialogue event held in Málaga. This event brought together key stakeholders such as the European Commission, the Union for the Mediterranean and UNEP/MAP SPA-RAC, among others, to discuss strategies for enhancing the protection of natural heritage and particularly about marine and coastal restoration. My role included attending communication meetings for the project and the Mission, assisting with the organization of the Institutional Dialogue event and the setup of the event spot (IEO Málaga), as well as supporting the IUCN Med communication team with social media, news on the website of both IUCN Med and the Mission’s, preparing a yearly policy calendar so anyone in the event could write down and share interesting dates, and ensuring the project’s messages reached a broader audience. It was inspiring to see how collaboration and dialogue can drive positive change.
Through this opportunity, I have gained a deeper understanding of how EU-funded projects operate and the significant role of Cohesion Policy in supporting sustainable development. Working on Dialogue4Nature has shown me the power of teamwork in tackling shared challenges like biodiversity loss and climate change. Additionally, I have been developing valuable skills in communication and storytelling, which are essential for raising awareness about environmental issues.
Being an IVY volunteer has been incredibly rewarding so far. It feels meaningful to contribute to a project that not only protects our natural environment but also strengthens cooperation across borders. This experience is teaching me the importance of collective action and inspiring me to continue advocating for environmental conservation. I’m grateful for this opportunity and hope my story encourages others to engage with EU initiatives and have an IVY experience like mine.
– Marina, IVY Project Partner at Interreg project Dialogue4Nature
