As part of the project “Youth Organization for the Future of Heritage,” youth organisations active in the cultural sector gathered for a forum and workshop in İzmir’s Historic Port City, on 11 September 2024.
The project was developed by experts from the Historical Port City of Izmir Site Management Office, within the framework of the UNESCO World Heritage Initiative (World Heritage Volunteers – WHV).
The European Heritage Hub was represented by two of its partners: the European Students’ Association for Cultural Heritage (ESACH) and Europa Nostra Athens Heritage Hub, managed by Elliniki Etairia – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ELLET). Both organisations attended the Forum to emphasise the importance of European involvement in the cultural heritage sector and to share their projects advocating for greater youth representation.
In this hybrid event, both international and local participants had the opportunity to hear from of youth-led organisations working in cultural heritage. The final session focused on youth participation in cultural heritage, identifying key issues and developing potential solutions.
Elif Aydın, a Coordination Committee member of ESACH, highlighted the importance of fostering cross-border collaboration and enhancing the role of young people in preserving and promoting Europe’s shared cultural heritage. She underlined that youth should not only be participants but also positioned as key decision-makers in shaping the future of cultural heritage. ESACH also presented its European Heritage Youth Ambassadors programme and its initiatives on Cultural Heritage Narratives, aimed at deepening the connection to historical and cultural legacies through storytelling. These initiatives offer young people opportunities to integrate youth participation into events hosted by partner organisations, particularly through the European Heritage Hub.
A series of activities involving young heritage professionals were presented by the coordinator of the Athens Heritage Hub, Stavroula Thravalou. Through the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Athens, ELLET envisions nurturing a new wave of passionate and informed heritage advocates who can shape the future of cultural preservation. Ioanna Mikrou, board member of ELLET and volunteer, shared her experience from the Capacity-building Co-creation Camp for the Western Balkans that took place in Prespes, Greece, and brought together young heritage professionals across the Balkans. The objective of these activities is to provide opportunities, resources, and services that enable young individuals to actively engage with and contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage, ensure their voices are heard.
The event concluded with a focus on the joint initiatives between ESACH and the Athens Hub, particularly through the European Heritage Hub Social Forum and its dedicated Youth Group. These collaborations aim to further strengthen youth involvement in cultural heritage preservation and decision-making processes. By working together, ESACH and the Athens Hub are creating platforms where young people can actively contribute to shaping policies and practices related to Europe’s cultural heritage, ensuring that their voices are central in these conversations and actions.
