Social

Young people and European elections – Clip of Cohesion #64

Clip of Cohesion #64 – Let’s discover the initiatives organised by Europe Direct Lombardia for young students who will vote for the first time in the next European elections

Podcast: A cycle route between history, culture and sustainability

Implemented in the Basilicata region, the project ‘Verso Matera, Magna Grecia, Vie della Transumanza del Sale e Francigene’ is part of the 2014-2020 Action and Cohesion Plan (CAP) for an amount of EUR 3.7 million.  

This involves the construction of a cycle route, with a route that takes up ancient paths, redeveloping disused tracks. In particular: the Vie del Sale (Salt Roads), the Via Francigene, the Via della Transumanza (Unesco Intangible Heritage) and the Itinerario del Monaco Guidone (Route of the Guidone Monk), drawn up in 1119.

The aim is to facilitate connections between Matera and the neighbouring municipalities, which have decided to work together to build the cycle path. The route will then be directly connected to the FAL (Ferrovie Appulo Lucane) station, a junction with the national train networks. 

Listen to the podcast on this ambitious project of the Basilicata Region: https://podcast.areanews24.it/podcast/areanews-eufactor.htm

“EU with YOU” is the Eu Factor Next podcast realised by Raduni, the Association of Italian University Radio Operators, to tell citizens at first hand how European funds are spent. In each episode the podcast will tell the story of a project financed by the European Union and its Cohesion Policy on the national territory.

With ‘Torno Subito’ the Lazio Region helps young people

‘Torno Subito’ finances internships or apprenticeships outside the region, for the job placement of young people

From corporate crisis to rebirth thanks also to European funds

WBO Italcable in Campania reborn thanks to workers’ co-op and European funds

Volunteering through the European Solidarity Corps

The European Solidarity Corps helps young people from 18 to 30 years old to participate in projects that benefit communities, both abroad and in their own country. These projects offer a stimulating experience of growth and knowledge.

You can choose from different options such as volunteering, internships, working, participating in local solidarity projects and volunteering in humanitarian aid. Activities cover a variety of areas: education and training, citizenship and democratic participation, environment and nature protection, migration, culture, humanitarian aid and others.

The European Solidarity Corps, managed by the European Commission, provides funding in the form of grants to organisations through calls for proposals. Young people wishing to get involved in such activities must register on the European Solidarity Corps portal. The portal is the place where young grant recipients and organisations can carry out activities and find each other.

As far as volunteering is concerned, projects offer the opportunity to learn new skills, spend time abroad, learn a language and meet many people to share meaningful experiences. You can choose between individual and group volunteering.

Individual volunteering

  • can last from 2 to 12 months
  • is full-time (between 30 and 38 hours per week)
  • allows you to contribute to the daily work of an organisation that directly benefits the local community
  • it is usually cross-border, i.e. it takes place in a country other than the one where you live (although national volunteering projects do exist)
  • in some cases you can also participate for a shorter period (2 weeks to 2 months)

Supporting and host organisations
If a foreign destination is chosen for individual volunteering, two organisations are involved:

  • the supporting organisation, which is based in your home country and helps with the preparation of the experience abroad
  • the host organisation, which welcomes and mentors volunteers in the destination country.

Supporting organisations can be found in the database of accredited/quality-labelled organisations.

Group volunteering

  • can last from 2 weeks to 2 months
  • is full-time (between 30 and 38 hours per week)
  • you volunteer with people from at least 2 different countries
  • the group will count between 10 and 40 volunteers and will include people with fewer opportunities
  • it is normally abroad, but can also take place in one’s own country.

More infos https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/young-people/volunteering_it

Below are the links to the databases for consultation:

Database of accreditated organisations

EU-funded volunteering opportunities

Agriculture, the General Director of the European Commission speaks

The key European funds for rural development, explained by Joao Onofre, Head of DG AGRI

Podcast: Nanophotonics fighting against cancer

The development of nanophotonics and nanotechnology will play a key role in the fight against cancer and neurological diseases.

The numbers of cancer patients in Italy are growing. Last year’s figures, compiled by the report ‘The Numbers of Cancer 2022’, speak of 391,000 new diagnoses, 14,000 more cases than the previous year, affecting more men.

The European Union is very committed from the point of view of funding and development policies, especially in the field of health: the project ‘Nanophotonics for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in oncology and neurology’, planned by the Ministry of Health and Research, aims to be able to produce cutting-edge technologies, in this case ‘nano-technologies’ that can be used in multiple fields.

This term refers to all those electronic materials 10,000 to 1,000,000 times smaller than a millimetre. Nanophotonics technology has many uses and advantages, including early intervention and dynamic detection of complex diseases or problems.

But how can these diseases be detected in advance?

Find out more with ‘EU with YOU’: https://podcast.areanews24.it/podcast/areanews-eufactor.htm

“EU with YOU” is the Eu Factor Next podcast realised by Raduni, the Association of Italian University Radio Operators, to tell citizens at first hand how European funding is spent. In each episode the podcast will tell the story of a project funded by the European Union and its Cohesion Policy on the national territory.

European Youth Week, voice your vision

The European Youth Week is an event organised every two years by the European Commission to celebrate and promote the engagement, participation and active citizenship of young people across Europe and beyond.

The European Youth Week 2024, scheduled from 12 to 19 April, will take place two months before the European elections, which are scheduled to take place between 6 and 9 June 2024. This means that democracy and the European elections will both be at the centre of the debate. For young people in Europe, this is an important opportunity to participate more actively in society and put democracy into action.

For more information, interested young people can contact the national agencies for Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and the Eurodesk network.

The Commission also presented several concrete initiatives to address the concerns of young people in five policy areas that are of key importance to them: health and well-being, environment and climate, education and training, international cooperation and European values, employment and inclusion. As part of these measures, for example, the Commission:

  • will take forward work towards a Joint European Diploma in 2024, in line with the European Strategy for Universities;
  • will set up a platform for regular dialogue and consultations with youth organisations from all over the world through the Platform for Dialogue with Young People in EU External Action;
  • will update its quality framework for traineeships in 2024 to address issues such as fair pay and access to social protection;
  • will develop guidelines on well-being in schools, due to be published in 2024;
  • will target young people with the upcoming climate and democracy campaign ahead of the European elections in 2024;
  • will increase volunteering opportunities for young people to address the green transition, complementing the 2024 call for the European Solidarity Corps under Horizon Europe;
  • will further implement the ALMA (Aspire, Learn, Achieve) initiative to help disadvantaged young people aged between 18 and 29 to integrate into society and the labour market through a vocational learning experience abroad.

The European Youth Portal: https://youth.europa.eu/home_it

European Youth Week: https://youth.europa.eu/youthweek_it

Sicily, a social coop committed for inclusion and job placement

Three shelters in Caltanissetta to welcome women victims of violence

Campania, the Royal Site of Carditello is reborn thanks to European funds

In Caserta, after decades of neglect, the Bourbon complex is once again available to the public