— Emma Fernández, Fundación Galicia Europa’s new IVY volunteer, will focus on improving the effectiveness of youth employment policies for sustainable rural development

— The Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) initiative offers young people the opportunity to volunteer in cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation programmes

Santiago de Compostela, 28 July 2026. Jesús Gamallo, Director General for External Relations and Relations with the European Union and Director of Fundación Galicia Europa, welcomed Emma Fernández Sánchez as the organisation’s new Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) volunteer, who joins the Foundation as part of the European project RuralYouthFuture.

Emma holds a degree in Biology from the University of Santiago de Compostela. She is the former President of Equipo Europa Galicia, Youth Delegate for Energy and Climate Action at the Union for the Mediterranean, and a member of the National Working Group of the EU Youth Dialogue. During her placement, Emma will support the implementation and promotion of Interreg Europe programmes and projects, with a particular focus on improving youth employability as a driver of sustainable rural development.

The IVY initiative offers opportunities similar to those provided by the former European Voluntary Service. Host organisations are selected by the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) on behalf of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO).

Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) promotes cooperation across the EU’s internal borders while strengthening European solidarity, active citizenship and civic engagement. Volunteer placements last between two and six months. IVY volunteers are young people aged 18 to 30 from EU Member States and neighbouring countries who share a commitment to European cooperation and bring a wide range of cultural backgrounds, skills and interests.

Interreg Volunteering Youth

The overall objective of the IVY initiative is to support the successful implementation of Interreg programmes and projects through the involvement of young volunteers. More specifically, it aims to increase the visibility of Interreg, IPA CBC and Interreg NEXT programmes and projects by supporting project partners with the contribution of volunteers. At the same time, IVY provides young people with opportunities to engage in solidarity activities that generate a positive social impact, while fostering European integration and raising awareness of the benefits of territorial cooperation.

More info: IVY initiative