FIIAPP brings international cooperation closer to young people

International cooperation is also of interest to young people. This weekend, the non-partisan association of young Europeanists Equipo Europa and the European Commission organized a course on International Cooperation for its members, in which the FIIAPP participated. More than 120 young people attended the training, which was delivered online throughout the weekend.

FIIAPP was represented by Raúl Carrillo, technician of the European project SOCIEUX, who was able to explain to the attendees how is the management of development projects and the job opportunities that exist in this field. Carrillo explained to the FIIAPP communication team that the role of young people in international cooperation “can be very beneficial, giving a lot of fresh air and new perspectives. They have an inclusive, tolerant, egalitarian vision with a broad degree of solidarity, which can help to refresh cooperation and create new ties and ways of approaching the work”.

She also recognizes that there is a youth movement that “is very interested in Europe and, in general, in global issues, and is aware that the way to face these challenges has to be multilateral, comprehensive and with a human rights approach”. Helena Ripollés, Equipo Europa’s training spokesperson, shares Carrillo’s vision, and insists that “young people are a key sector in our democracies”.

Bringing young people closer to the role of institutions is fundamental “to protect themselves”, says Ripollés, because “ensuring that young people recognize the work of institutions will be key to making sure that they defend them when they are questioned”. Of course, he also stresses “the duty of public institutions to keep the population informed and involved to ensure that democracy survives and thrives”.

In the framework of the European Year of Youth, whose objective is to involve young people in European and national political action, the course has also counted with the participation of the Embassy of Equatorial Guinea in Brussels, International Partnerships, the National University of Rosario in Argentina and the Permanent Representation of Spain to the Council of Europe (REPER).