The Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta is beginning its participation in a new European project. The project is called CERV-ACTIVE-YOUTH, which stands for Active Youth in Cultural Activities in the European Union. This initiative began in January 2026 and will run until September 2027.
The project focuses on the value of social and cultural volunteering by young people as a fundamental pillar for the growth of communities. Civic engagement contributes to social cohesion and preserves and disseminates local culture and traditions, elements that define the identity of each territory and which, together, form the basis of a common European future.
CERV-ACTIVE-YOUTH aims to organise international events bringing together people from different European countries to exchange and compare ideas on the richness of the EU’s cultural heritage as expressed through cultural activities.
Institutions from five European countries are participating in the project. Three are from Italy: the City Council of Bastia Umbra, which acts as coordinator, as well as the associations Bastia Gemellaggi and Ente Palio di San Michele. Also participating in the initiative are the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta through its Youth Department, the town councils of Luz-Saint-Sauveur (France) and Gjirokaster (Albania), and two partners from Hungary: the Town Council of Karancslapujtö and the Karancs Kincse Közhasnú Egyesület association.
The objectives are to create and develop cooperation between networks of cities based on a common long-term vision for the future of European integration and to encourage democratic participation by citizens by promoting the exchange of good practices and enhancing the richness and diversity of the European Union’s cultural heritage.
On Friday 27 February, the first meeting of CERV-ACTIVE-YOUTH took place, an online meeting with more than 100 participants. The project was presented with the participation of experts and specialists in youth, youth and cultural associations, and representatives from public and private organisations. On behalf of the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta, the Local Youth Group of Antella, the Nova Muixeranga Association of Algemesí, and the permanent group of young people from the Mancomunitat’s Youth Correspondents programme took part.
The president of the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta, Paqui Momparler Orta, praised the initiative: “Participation in this project stems from a clear conviction: young people are essential in building the present and future of Europe. Social and cultural volunteering by young people represents much more than solidarity; it is a driving force for social cohesion, heritage preservation and the projection of our collective identity. In territories such as ours, with rural and inland municipalities with great cultural wealth, this involvement is particularly valuable”.
