IGNetwork

In collaboration with Openhouse, European Heritage Volunteers, the Freudenstadt Heritage Association, and the Friends of Waldlust Association, this project is dedicated to reactivating the historic park surrounding the former Grand Hotel Waldlust in Freudenstadt, a prominent example of late 19th-century spa architecture in the Black Forest.

Volunteers express their civic engagement to preserve and promote European cultural heritage focusing on the historic landscape, through key activities:
🔹 physical restoration: clearing overgrowth, maintaining pathways, and stabilizing historic stone elements like steps, edging, and retaining walls;
🔹 educational workshops: introducing participants to the history of spa landscapes, the Parkwald concept, and modern heritage conservation approaches;
🔹 community engagement: hosting a public event to connect on-site preservation work with the wider local community.

Strengthening equality, rights, and active citizenship across Europe through the framework of the Program. By engaging volunteers in the protection of shared cultural heritage and places of memory, our network continues to empower young people to become active guardians of European landscapes and local communities.

European Youth

🏝🌿 Conservation, research, and civic memory: ESC Team Volunteering in Isola delle Femmine!

A powerful European Solidarity Corps Team Volunteering (ESC TV) project took place in Isola delle Femmine, coordinated by Associazione InformaGiovani in close partnership with the staff of the Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve and Addiopizzo Travel.

The international team worked across multiple ecological, scientific, and educational fronts:
🔹 trail & infrastructure restoration: rebuilt stone paths damaged by extreme weather and performed maintenance on key support structures on the islet;
🔹 vegetation action: planted new native species to restore ground cover and provided care and watering for plants from previous reforestation phases;
🔹 fighting invasive species: supported the reserve's staff in scientific monitoring and management of Pennisetum setaceum (an invasive alien plant species) in collaboration with MedMaquis;
🔹 coastal cleanup: cleared marine litter and waste washed ashore along the reserve's coastlines after heavy storm surges;
🔹 civic memory: assisted in organizing a public docufilm screening and cultural event at the MuST23 museum, fostering active community reflection on anti-mafia resistance and social justice.

Strengthening equality, rights, and active citizenship across Europe through the framework of the Program. By engaging young Europeans in hands-on environmental research, invasive species management, and historical memory, our network continues to foster active participation and ecological resilience.

European Youth Lipu Sezione Di Palermo

♻️🤝 Solidarity, circular economy, and inclusion: Emmaus workcamp in Villafranca di Verona!

We returned to the Emmaus community in Villafranca di Verona the international workcamp of the season, bringing together dedicated volunteers.

For two weeks, participants fully integrated into community life, working side-by-side with local residents and sharing daily routines, practical local support, and personal life journeys.

Highlights of the workcamp:
🔹 hands-on community tasks: contributing across every sector of the community, including gardening, cooking, carpentry, recycling, warehouse logistics, and the secondhand market;
🔹 living shared values: experiencing firsthand a strong social model rooted in hospitality, mutual aid, and human dignity;
🔹 intercultural exchange: transforming mealtimes into intercultural celebrations by preparing traditional dishes for the entire community.

Strengthening equality, rights, and active citizenship across Europe through the framework of the Program. By promoting circular economy practices, social inclusion, and cross-border solidarity, our network continues to build meaningful bridges between diverse cultures and empower young citizens.

European Youth Associazione InformaGiovani Comunita' Emmaus Villafranca

☀️🎈 Play, creativity, and inclusion: the VEIL project is bringing pure joy to Sicily!

In Sant’Agata di Militello, the international group of volunteers from the project has been working side by side with the local Caritas Diocesana di Patti. Together, they are organising a lively summer camp for local children and young people, creating a safe, stimulating and energetic environment.

Coordinated by Associazione InformaGiovani, the volunteers have successfully taken charge of the morning activities, devising non-formal educational spaces divided into various themed clubs:
🔹 active&cooperative games: from dodgeball and capture-the-flag to customized group challenges like "Pichi" and hula-hoop coordination, boosting teamwork and physical well-being;
🔹 creative&calm clubs: hands-on workshops featuring origami, collage making, and drawing, alongside relaxing spaces dedicated to puzzles and Lego building;
🔹 music&expression: energizing daily group dances and mimicry games that encourage self-expression and break down cultural and language barriers.

As well as their work with the children, the volunteers enjoyed a powerful group experience, exploring the stunning Sicilian coastline, sharing mid-programme reflections and building a close-knit international community.

Strengthening equality, rights, and active citizenship across Europe through the framework of the Program. By supporting local social inclusion activities run by Caritas and empowering international youth to lead non-formal educational play, our network continues to foster solidarity and equal opportunities for all children.

European Youth IBG Workcamps La Rotllana Associació Las Niñas Del Tul Sve Solidarités Jeunesses I Girasoli Union Forum / Спілка Форум

🎭✨ Serradifalco becomes the stage for contemporary performing arts and solidarity!

The rural town of Serradifalco turned into a open-air stage for the 8th edition of the Performare Festival, a key regional event celebrating contemporary performing arts, young dance choreographers, and international artistic residencies.

To make this cultural wave possible, a dedicated team of seven international youth volunteers under the (ESC) program, coordinated by Associazione InformaGiovani, joined forces behind the scenes!

The volunteers played a vital role in bringing the festival to life by taking on crucial tasks:
🔹 Staging & Logistics: preparing, cleaning, and setting up community and performance spaces, transforming local venues into welcoming workshop and rehearsal areas;
🔹 Hospitality & Community Coordination: welcoming international artists and the local audience, assisting with food preparation, and guiding visitors through the event’s rich schedule;
🔹 Digital Documentation: capturing the festival's unique atmosphere through creative photography, short videos, and social media content creation.

By volunteering in an internal Sicilian area, the team actively supported cultural decentralization. The project highlighted a beautiful dual dialogue: how contemporary performing arts can deeply revitalize rural communities, and how internal territories can inspire and enrich modern artistic expression.

Strengthening equality, rights, and active citizenship across Europe through the framework of the Program. By engaging international youth in rural cultural development and facilitating access to contemporary arts outside of major urban hubs, our network continues to foster local empowerment, inclusion, and cultural diversity.

European Youth

🚜🌾 Social justice, organic farming, and inclusion: workcamp concluded in Castelvetrano!

The international workcamp hosted in Castelvetrano in partnership with the I Locandieri cooperative and coordinated by Associazione InformaGiovani has successfully come to an end. It was an inspiring journey that combined sustainable agriculture, anti-mafia education, and community integration.

Throughout the project, participants took part in:
🔹 Hands-on Organic Farming: volunteers contributed to sowing, harvesting, maintaining the organic vegetable garden, restoring traditional dry stone walls, and setting up the cooperative's shop;
🔹 Anti-Mafia & Confiscated Assets: educational workshops focused on sustainable farming and the social impact of managing property confiscated from organized crime;
🔹 Community Building & Inclusion: creative afternoon workshops to decorate the living spaces, alongside a memorable intercultural cooking workshop that brought together volunteers, cooperative staff, and young migrants hosted by the cooperative.

Strengthening equality, rights, and active citizenship across Europe through the framework of the Program. By supporting the social reuse of confiscated assets and connecting international youth with local social inclusion initiatives, our network continues to foster solidarity, democratic values, and sustainable development.

European Youth

🏝The island says thank you: the camp at Isola delle Femmine has come to an end!

The international volunteering workcamp in Isola delle Femmine has officially come to a successful end! Coordinated by our member organization Associazione InformaGiovani, this long-standing project once again brought together young participants to protect natural ecosystems and foster civic awareness.

A heartfelt thanks go to the staff of the Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve and Addiopizzo Travel for their invaluable cooperation and dedicated guidance throughout the camp.

Together, the international volunteers achieved remarkable results:
🔹ecosystem protection: repaired footpaths damaged by bad weather, planted new vegetation to restore ground cover, maintained and tended to previously planted trees, and cleared the reserve of rubbish washed up by storm surges;
🔹civic action & memory: supported land-based activities at the MuST23 museum, leading peer-to-peer workshops on climate justice, rule of law, and anti-mafia civic resistance.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers for the dedication, energy and team spirit they showed every single day.

Strengthening equality, rights, and active citizenship across Europe through the framework of the Program. By connecting historical memory, rule of law, and hands-on environmental conservation, our network continues to empower young people to become active guardians of both democracy and natural heritage.

European Youth Lipu Sezione Di Palermo

🏛✨ Co-designing the future: empowering young voices to shape their own youth spaces!

To promote the fundamental social and democratic value of youth spaces, together with our partner Malmö Ideella, we organized an inspiring interactive workshop for young participants aged 16 to 20, giving them the floor to dream, learn, and design their ideal youth environments.

Grounded in the recommendations and core vision of the European Charter on Youth Spaces we're promoting all over Europe, the participants took on the role of space creators. During their creative process, they actively addressed essential pillars such as:
🔹 purpose & vision: defining the core mission, values, and target groups of inclusive spaces;
🔹 management & visibility: brainstorming practical organizational structures, co-governance models, and outreach strategies to ensure long-term community impact.

The workshop culminated in a dynamic sharing session where participants presented their custom designs to one another. This sparked meaningful discussions on youth influence, social inclusion, quality leisure time, and local development, leaving the young participants inspired and empowered to drive future civic action in their communities!

Strengthening equality, rights, and active citizenship across Europe through the framework of the Program. By giving young people the tools and platforms to co-design inclusive spaces and influence decision-making, our network continues to champion youth participation, democracy, and community growth.

Youth

🏝Between the environment, the sea and the rule of law: the international camp in Isola delle Femmine!

For over twenty years, our partner Associazione InformaGiovani and the Palermo branch of LIPU have been working together to run this volunteer camp, which serves as a beacon for environmental protection and civic engagement. Our international volunteers, together with staff from Lipu Sezione Di Palermo and Addiopizzo Travel, are enjoying an incredible experience that combines caring for a nature reserve with Sicily’s historical heritage, set against the backdrop of the sea and the mainland.

The project is being carried out on two complementary fronts:

🌊 On the island (the Nature Reserve):
Every morning, the group makes the boat crossing to the uninhabited island to support the staff of the Oriented Nature Reserve. Activities are currently in full swing:
🔹 Reconstruction of footpaths: restoring the stone paths destroyed by the fury of Hurricane Harry;
🔹 Biodiversity conservation: repopulating the local flora by planting new species and tending to the vegetation;
🔹 Tackling plastic pollution: clearing the coastline of rubbish washed up by storm surges and restoring structures for local wildlife damaged by the bad weather.

🌍 On land (Culture and the Rule of Law):
The participants’ commitment extends beyond the island; in collaboration with Addiopizzo Travel, the group supports the activities of MuST23, the interactive and immersive museum dedicated to the memory of the Capaci massacre. Here, volunteers look after the museum’s green spaces, help organise cultural events and facilitate workshops on the climate crisis, social justice and the fight against the Mafia.

A generational and transnational bridge which, year after year, continues to demonstrate how the protection of the local area and active remembrance always go hand in hand.

Strengthening equality, rights, and active citizenship across Europe through the framework of the Program. By connecting a 20-year history of environmental protection with local justice movements our network continues to empower young people to become active guardians of both biodiversity and democratic values.

European Youth