Passion, solidarity, cooperation, and a shared vision of the future! These are the values that inspire us every day and that we have passed on to Francesco De Maria, the IVY volunteer who is helping us communicate programme activities and results. 

Here is his story, published on the Interreg Volunteer Youth website.

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My name is Francesco and I’m an IVY Volunteer at the Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro programme, based in the fascinating city of Bari, Puglia region, Italy.

The main objective of the programme is the promotion of Cross-Border Cooperation between these three countries, focusing on four main pillars: Competitiveness of SMEs, Tourism and Culture, Environment and Energy and Sustainable Transport.

After almost two months there, I can say that I am super happy I was selected for this opportunity for many reasons: indeed, given my background in eastern European and Balkan studies, this chance means finally engaging in the international cooperation of the countries I specialised on, through an EU funded programme.

Not only I can put my knowledge and skills into the ground, but I expect to learn a lot from the highly competent working environment I collaborate with, especially in the EU project analysis and implementation.

Last, but not least, I’m excited to be part of the international development of my beloved home region, Puglia, where I came back after a long time far away.

My colleagues form an extremely motivated and passionate team, they welcomed me warmly and make me feel at home. Everybody is ready to help and explain different tasks and topics to face every day.

So far, I’ve been supporting the Communication officer through a variety of activities which includes the management of Social Media, the selection and publication of news, the editing of press reviews. Moreover, I participated in some activities promoted by the projects funded by the programme, like theatre performances and other cultural events.

In addition to that, I had the chance to learn more about the EUSAIR strategy, aimed to promote economic and social prosperity and growth in the Adriatic and Ionian region by improving its attractiveness, competitiveness and connectivity.

Given the approaching of the next EU strategy for 2021-2027, in the following months, I’ll be involved also in the territorial analysis, the collection of the results obtained by the previous period and I will support the Joint Secretariat in the formulation of recommendations on the next areas where the EU funded projects will need to be implemented.

Photo: Giulio Ribezzo, Sutura