IGNetwork

🇪🇺 Intercultural dialogue through gastronomy: Connecting university students in Latvia!

We are thrilled to share a wonderful initiative organized by our Latvian partner, Radi Vidi Pats! Led by their talented European Solidarity Corps ( ) volunteer from Spain, Elias, a unique interactive workshop brought together 11 European Language and Culture students and their teacher from the Riga Technical University Liepaja Academy.

The main goal of the event was to foster intercultural learning and practice multilingual communication simultaneously in Spanish, English, and Latvian, while showcasing the incredible opportunities that European youth programmes offer to university students.

To make the learning experience truly immersive, the students were divided into three dynamic groups to test their culinary skills by preparing traditional, mouth-watering Spanish dishes:
🔹 Tortilla de patatas (traditional potato omelette);
🔹 Gazpacho (refreshing cold tomato soup);
🔹 Arroz con leche (sweet rice pudding) and fresh homemade mayonnaise.

While cooking and sharing food, the participants engaged in meaningful conversations about international mobility, breaking cultural barriers, and discovering how European projects can enrich their academic and personal paths.

Strengthening equality, rights, and active citizenship across Europe through the framework of the CERV Program. By supporting non-formal learning methods, peer-to-peer exchanges, and cultural diversity, our network continues to empower young people and students to build a more open, connected, and inclusive European community.

European Youth

🏛 Enhancing quality in youth hosting: National ESC training in Rome!

From May 26th to 28th, 2026, we participated in the national training activity for European Solidarity Corps ( ) organisations, hosted in Rome by the Italian Youth Agency (Agenzia Italiana per la Gioventù).
The event provided a vital space to discuss the ESC program, with a specific focus on the evolving role, tasks, and responsibilities of hosting organisations.

Throughout the training, participants engaged in fruitful exchanges regarding:
🔹 Key challenges in managing international volunteers and co-creating practical solutions;
🔹 Ensuring high pedagogical quality, safety, and clear framework responsibilities;
🔹 Networking and sharing best practices among diverse civil society organisations.

Strengthening equality, rights, and active citizenship across Europe through the framework of the Program. Even when operating within the ESC framework, our network remains fully committed to capacity building and empowering youth organisations to foster safe, inclusive, and high-quality spaces for young people.

A huge thank you to the Italian Youth Agency and all the participating organisations for these highly inspiring and collaborative days!

European Youth Commissione europea – Rappresentanza in Italia European Parliament Parlamento europeo in Italia Agenzia Italiana per la Gioventù - AIG Associazione InformaGiovani

💰 Combining skills with volunteering: Mariann's masterclass on personal finance!

Mariann, a European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteer at Associazione InformaGiovani , successfully combined her passion for solidarity with her background in finance to create a unique personal finance masterclass. At IGNet Network, we believe that active and conscious citizenship also means empowering young people with the capacity to manage and organize their own financial independence, providing them with the concrete tools needed to take control of their future.

The workshop was specifically designed for peers, young people, students navigating life on a budget, whether they are currently on an Erasmus mobility or starting their independent paths. During the masterclass, we explored essential topics for economic autonomy:

🔹 Effective saving strategies and daily budgeting techniques;
🔹 A clear, accessible introduction to the world of ethical and low-risk investments;
🔹 Practical tips to define personal financial goals and monitor them over time.

Mariann led the session by putting her expertise at the service of the community: she holds a degree in Business Administration, served as a board member for her university's Investment Club for three years, and has been actively investing since 2022. The event was further enriched by the support of a local international Erasmus student association, which helped connect the initiative even deeper with the youth community.

Strengthening equality, rights, and active citizenship across Europe through the framework of the Program. Fostering financial literacy and autonomy among the youth is a strategic step toward building a more resilient, equal, and self-reliant society. We are proud to support our volunteers' personal projects, transforming European volunteering into a powerful resource for shared growth!

European Youth Commissione europea – Rappresentanza in Italia European Parliament Parlamento europeo in Italia Agenzia Italiana per la Gioventù - AIG

🃏 Stronger together: our network members joined forces in Palermo!

Together with our network members from Germany, Slovenia, and InformaGiovani, we have just concluded a key coordination meeting for the - Digital Awareness Reflection Toolkit project. This synergy is at the heart of our mission to innovate youth work and provide quality tools for educators across Europe.

During our time in Palermo, we focused on developing the "Alpha" version of the DART toolkit. We are designing a specialized support aimed at fostering critical thinking and media literacy among young people, helping them navigate the digital world with awareness and responsibility.

The work is far from over, and more meetings are on the horizon, but as you can see from our smiles, we are extremely satisfied with the results of this partnership. Stay tuned for the next steps!

Project funded by Erasmus+ program.

European Youth Commissione europea – Rappresentanza in Italia European Parliament Parlamento europeo in Italia
Associazione InformaGiovani Ambitia Institute jugendkulturarbeit