From October 2024 to March 2025, Alicia spent 6 months with the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, bringing fresh energy and a youth perspective to the implementation of communication activities. Read more about her experience.
News inspired by publication on Interreg TESIM website.
Being born in Spain with Romanian origins, Alicia Kerekes Ispas grew up between two countries and their cultures. This connection sparked an interest in international cooperation that deepened through her academic and linguistic pursuits, including learning Arabic and living in Tunisia. Thus, when one day Alicia saw that the Regional Branch Office of Interreg NEXT MED (located in Valencia, Spain) was looking for a young volunteer, she grabbed this placement offer, launched as part of the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) initiative. “I believed this to be a great opportunity not only to learn from first-hand professionals about transnational cooperation, but also to contribute to it,” – shares Alicia, our first-ever IVY at Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
She joined the communication team at the Regional Branch Office in Valencia in October 2024. From that moment she was engaged in preparing info sessions for the Interreg NEXT MED second call for proposals, events coordination, social media management and writing content to increase the Programme’s visibility. “My goal was to enhance the visibility of the Interreg NEXT MED Programme among young people in the Mediterranean and encourage their engagement in regional cooperation. I strongly believe that youth are a driving force in bringing regions closer.”
Her experience as an IVY reporter helped Alicia gather valuable knowledge, develop practical skills and improve her proficiency in French and Arabic. Likewise, she found daily inspiration and motivation from her colleagues.
In the challenging realities of the Mediterranean – from environmental threats to political instability and social inequalities – she finds vital initiatives, like Interreg, in addressing cross-border challenges together. “I want to dedicate myself to improving relations between the EU and its neighbours, particularly through transnational dialogue and cooperation. Hence, being an IVY reporter marks an important step in my journey” – concludes Alicia.
ABOUT INTERREG YOUTH VOLUNTEER
Funded by the European Commission’s DG Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO) and implemented by the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), the Interreg Volunteer Youth initiative is a programme for young people eager to gain new international experiences through volunteering. IVY offers a unique opportunity for Interreg projects and programmes to have a lasting impact on European cooperation. On 20 March Interreg Voluntary Youth (IVY) initiative celebrated its 8th anniversary, hitting a remarkable milestone of 1.000 young volunteers empowered across 25 countries in Europe and beyond.
View open volunteering placements on the IVY website.
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