Learn about the experience of our Interreg Volunteer Youth Anna!
Image: GREENHEALTH group photo at the Acres Lake Board Walk in County Leitrim, Ireland.
For the first time in our history, EUROPARC hosted an Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) for our GREENHEALTH project. Learn more about her experience in this article!
Article written by Anna Di Cecco.
About IVY
My name is Anna Di Cecco and I had the opportunity to spend a semester as an IVY in the GREENHEALTH Interreg project, collaborating with EUROPARC.
The “Interreg Volunteer Youth” (IVY) is an initiative of the European Commission, which represents a unique opportunity for young people who want to impact the world we live in. It aims at promoting cooperation by supporting Interreg projects and programs, making cooperation visible, and empowering youth.
About the project
In the GREENHEALTH project, EUROPARC covers the role of advisory partner for communication and capacity building. In this role, EUROPARC and the Healthy Parks Healthy People Europe Commission provide topical expertise through the use of the HPHPe Toolkit. The latter serves as a methodological compass to identify good practices and areas that can help support public health and conservation outcomes through the appropriate use of natural assets.
The final goal of the project is to improve regional public policies and to create the right regional contexts to maximize the links between Protected Areas and health and well-being.
Discover more about GREENHEALTH here!
My role in the project
I was in charge of the communication and dissemination activities of GREENHEALTH, both through our project’s website and our social media channels. I applied for this opportunity because I was interested in discovering how an Interreg project works from the inside. In addition, I grew up in a Protected Area and I am passionate about sustainable development and nature conservation and restoration. Thus, having the chance to be part of the EUROPARC team has been very inspiring and empowering.
During my IVY experience, I had the opportunity to learn more about how Protected Areas work and why they are so important for nature restoration and conservation. I have met many people from different backgrounds and learned from their expertise.
I also had the chance to travel, visit natural areas involved in the project, and learn on the ground, both from partners and stakeholders.
Looking back at the time spent here, I am grateful to the EUROPARC team for how I have been welcomed into the office life, making me feel at home from the first day. This experience has given me new skills, new competencies, and beautiful memories, thanks to the people who have been with me during my time in Regensburg.
I would suggest this experience to every young person who wants to explore cooperation and local development while acquiring new skills, both at personal and professional levels. It is also a great experience to participate in heterogeneous EUROPARC activities, which touch every aspect of Protected Areas management and nature conservation, from sustainable tourism to health, climate change, and much more.
Interested in joining the EUROPARC Team? Keep an eye on our job vacancies page here.