GREENHEALTH first cooperation with Interreg Volunteer Youth
Article written by Anna Di Cecco.
Interreg Youth Volunteer from 1st February to 31st July 2024.
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 Federation.
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 programmes, making cooperation visible, and empowering youth.
About the role of EUROPARC Federation in the project
In the GREENHEALTH project, EUROPARC Federation covers the role of advisory partner for communication and capacity building. In this role, EUROPARC - through the Healthy Parks Healthy People Europe Commission (HPHPe) - provides subject matter 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.
My role in the project
I supported the communication and dissemination activities of GREENHEALTH, primarily but not exclusively the digital communication efforts. 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.
During my IVY experience, I had the opportunity to learn more about how Protected Areas work, why they are so important for nature restoration and conservation and how they can contribute to health outcomes. 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.
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 plus to understand the heterogeneous EUROPARC activities, which touch every aspect of Protected Areas management and nature conservation, from health to sustainable tourism, climate change, and much more.