Stakeholder Meeting in Latvia

On February 13th, the Latvian stakeholder group of the Interreg Europe YESVolunteer project gathered at the Jūrmala Youth Initiative Center, bringing together youth specialists and volunteering enthusiasts from various regions of Latvia. The aim of the meeting was to exchange experiences, discuss youth civic engagement, and prepare for upcoming international exchange events.

During the meeting, participants were introduced to the activities of the Jūrmala Youth Initiative Center and received insights into the progress and future plans of the YESVolunteer project. Project coordinator Ronalds Saksons and expert Vita Žunda emphasized the role of stakeholders in promoting youth engagement in volunteering both locally and internationally.

Special attention was given to the recent international exchange event held in the Liguria region of Italy. Participants shared their insights on encouraging youth involvement and organizing volunteering activities, highlighting cultural differences and their impact on youth motivation. The discussions also touched upon the boundaries between volunteering and employment, as well as the differences in regulatory frameworks across countries. Watch more about the insights from Liguria in the video:

Among the topics discussed was the upcoming international exchange seminar in Poland, where Vita Žunda will represent Latvia. This event will provide an opportunity to continue discussions on the importance of youth volunteering and learn from best practices in other countries. In parallel, participants started planning the international exchange event to be hosted in Latvia this year, with a particular focus on successful volunteering examples in municipalities.

The goal of the YESVolunteer project is to improve EU regional policies aimed at enhancing youth civic activity, participation, employment, and inclusion by exchanging experiences and transferring best practices from different European regions.

Watch the project overview video here: