EU Regional policy has joined the initiative with EUR 1 million to offer young Europeans aged 18-30 the possibility to serve as 'Interreg reporters' supporting an Interreg programme in promoting the concrete results of Interreg projects or as 'Interreg project partners' to help with the successful implementation of a concrete project. The minimum volunteering period is 2 months and the maximum 6 months.

The “Interreg Volunteer Youth” (IVY) initiative is aimed at involving young European volunteers to support, promote and report the concrete achievements of Interreg programmes and projects, as well as generally promote cooperation across borders and related values such as solidarity. The IVY will give volunteers the opportunity to familiarise with the Interreg programmes and projects, make them aware of the many benefits of collaboration among EU internal borders as well as enhance their sense of European solidarity, citizenship and civic engagement.  ​

The selection of the hosting bodies (managing authorities, joint secretariats, 2014-2020 on-going projects) has been entructed to the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), the Europe-wide organisation representing border and cross-border regions.

The IVY  initiative will offer similar advantages as the European Voluntary Service, covering notably volunteers´ travel, lodging, food and insurance. Applications by young volunteers may be submitted via the European Youth Portal while Interreg programmes and projects interested in hosting a volunteer can contact [email protected].

Volunteers will start receiving a posting proposal very soon as the Youth Portal is now operational and the AEBR is starting collecting interest from Interreg programmes and projects. AEBR will then manually ensure the matching of young volunteers (Interreg reporters or project partners) and managing authorities and joint secretariats as well as Interreg projects eager to receive their support.

> Interreg Volunteer Youth 

Photo credit: Chris Hunkeler via Foter.com / CC BY-SA