First Stakeholder Meeting Held in Genoa

The first stakeholder meeting of the YESVolunteer project in Italy was hosted by Anci Liguria on September 23, at the historic Palazzo Ducale in Genoa. This event brought together around 30 participants, including representatives from social cooperatives, citizens, associations, regional institutions, civil service volunteers, and municipal officials. The meeting included a workshop seeking to explore key issues surrounding youth volunteering and European mobility, with a specific focus on fostering inclusion and professional growth for young people through volunteering programmes.

Main focus of the meeting

The central theme of the meeting was European mobility and citizenship, with a focus on the role of youth volunteering in creating opportunities for young people to develop both soft and professional skills, particularly those from disadvantaged or remote areas. The event also served as a platform for networking and sharing best practices on integrating youth volunteering into regional development policies.

Agenda and course

Following registration and a welcome coffee, an introduction to Interreg Europe project was made by Pierluigi Vinai, Director General of Anci Liguria. Presentations on best practices covered topics such as bridging generational gaps through local services, civic service opportunities in municipalities, and the importance of European mobility in promoting youth volunteering. The event featured a workshop and open discussion among participants, concluding with a session summarising key insights and outlining next steps for collaboration.

Topics discussed

The meeting covered a wide range of topics related to youth volunteering and European mobility, including:

• Generation gaps and territorial services: How regional social-health plans in Liguria aim to address the needs of young people, especially NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and marginalised groups, through community-based initiatives.

• Civic service programmes: The potential of SCANCI.IT and other civic service initiatives to create professional opportunities for young people, including the possibility of acquiring certified skills during service.

• European civil service: The importance of mobility programs like ALMA Project, Erasmus+, and European Solidarity Corps in promoting cross-border experiences for youth as well as challenges related to bureaucracy and financial support.

Results and conclusions

The workshop concluded with a Q&A session where participants evaluated the impact of European mobility on youth development. The following key points emerged:

• Benefits of European mobility: Participants acknowledged the value of cross-border mobility in helping young people develop a broader perspective, improve language skills, and enhance self-confidence.

• Challenges: Bureaucratic barriers, financial constraints, and difficulties reaching young people from disadvantaged backgrounds were highlighted as significant obstacles.

• Proposed solutions: Increased networking between schools, associations, and local governments to enhance communication and create co-designed opportunities for young people was seen as a viable solution.

The YESVolunteer stakeholder meeting in Genoa emphasised the importance of fostering youth engagement and European mobility as tools for inclusion and professional growth. The next steps include a working table for further collaboration and a transnational workshop to explore best practices across Europe.