Interreg Volunteer Youth

Badge awarded to

Alba Dafonte Rodríguez

Issued on 29 Jan 2026 by

This badge is awarded to people who have successfully participated to the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) initiative. Promoted by the European Union and the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), the Interreg Volunteer Youth initiative is a programme for young people from the EU and its neighbouring countries who share a passion for cooperation. Hosted by programmes and projects for a period of up to 6 months, participants in IVY get involved in Interreg projects and help communicate the achievements of European Territorial Cooperation. Through this experience, they support concrete projects which share resources, ideas and knowledge to jointly tackle common challenges and find shared solutions in fields such as health, environment, research, education, transport, sustainable energy and more. By contributing to projects that promote local development, IVY volunteers enhance professional and personal skills like commitment, intercultural communication, leadership and teamwork. At the same time, an IVY experience fosters the importance of civic engagement and participation at local/regional level. IVY volunteers’ support of Interreg programmes and projects allows to make the benefits of cooperation more visible among local communities and beyond, and ultimately to build a better future for all, together.

Issuer

Interreg Volunteer Youth

ivy@aebr.eu

Criteria

Participants to the Interreg Volunteer Youth programme support cooperation projects, make the benefits of cooperation more visible among local communities and beyond and empower young people to engage in cooperation.

IVY volunteers are deployed for a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 6 months and are hosted by Interreg programmes’ Managing Authorities, Joint Secretariats, National Authorities or Interreg project beneficiaries in any of the participating countries.

IVY Project Partners contribute to the implementation of projects, in any thematic area of their interest. IVY Reporters help highlight the results of Interreg programmes.

Along with local actors, IVY volunteers tackle the challenges that Europe and its neighbouring regions are facing, helping find and implement common solutions. While helping their host organisations, volunteers acquire new skills in the field of European cooperation projects and experience first-hand what it means to collaborate with organisations in other EU or neighbouring regions. As a result, an IVY experience fosters personal growth, civic engagement and participation at local/regional level.

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