As part of the project “Youth Organization for the Future of Heritage,” youth organizations active in the cultural sector gathered for a forum and workshop in İzmir’s Historic Port City. The project was prepared by the experts of The Historical Port City of Izmir Site Management Office, in the framework of the UNESCO World Heritage Initiative (World Heritage Volunteers – WHV).
Representatives from two European Heritage Hub partners—European Students’ Association for Cultural Heritage (ESACH) and Europa Nostra Athens Heritage Hub that is managed by Elliniki Etairia – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ELLET) —attended the Forum to discuss 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 the experiences of youth-led organizations working in cultural heritage during the event’s sessions. The final session focused on youth participation in cultural heritage, identifying key issues and developing potential solutions.
In the discussion, 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. The emphasis was placed on ensuring that youth are not only participants but are positioned as key decision-makers in shaping the future of cultural heritage. ESACH also presented its European Heritage Youth Ambassadors program 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 in events of partner organizations, particularly through the European Heritage Hub.
A series of such activities involving young heritage professionals were presented by the coordinator of the Athens Heritage Hub, Stavroula Thravalou. As mentioned, 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 and brought together young heritage professionals across the Balkans. The objective of such activities is to provide opportunities, resources, and services that enable young individuals to actively engage with and contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage, making their voices heard!
The discussion concluded with a focus on the joint initiatives between ESACH and the Athens Hub, particularly through the European Heritage Hub’s Social Forum and its 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.
