The main aim of the campaign was to raise awareness about the European Year of Skills and to advocate for the importance of volunteering as a pathway to skills development, particularly emphasising its relevance in the context of the ESN Network. We wanted to underline that volunteers, during their ESN journey and also thanks to the multitude of collaborations that we have with some institutional partner such as CNG (the Youth National Council), can learn a wide variety of skills, ranging from soft skills (such as public speaking, teamwork and so on) to hard skills (such as organising events, realising content for social media, and much more). We therefore aimed to engage the ESN community in sharing their personal growth stories.
The initiative, undertaken by ESN Italy throughout 2023, aligned with the European Union's proclamation of the European Year of Skills, emphasizing the pivotal role of volunteering in fostering both soft and hard skills development. Shortly before Europe Day, the initiative unfolded as a series of interconnected activities designed to raise awareness and empower volunteers and international students to acquire competencies relevant to the job market.
The core activity of the initiative was an interactive social media campaign launched on Instagram for World Youth Skills Day. This campaign encouraged ESN volunteers to share their skill development stories through posts and story templates, fostering a sense of individual and collective achievement. Additionally, the Skills & Employability Team provided ongoing support by revising and enhancing volunteers' CVs, thereby further facilitating their professional growth.
The main aim of the campaign was to promote awareness about the European Year of Skills and underscore the significance of volunteering within the ESN Network as a pathway to skills development. By showcasing the multitude of skills volunteers acquire through their ESN experiences, ranging from soft skills like public speaking to hard skills like event organization, the initiative sought to engage the ESN community in sharing their personal growth narratives.
Targeting the 53 Sections within ESN Italy's Network, all ESN Network volunteers, and young students aged 18-26, the initiative aimed to demonstrate the value of volunteering in facilitating skill acquisition and personal development.
The impact of the initiative was multifaceted, encompassing increased awareness about volunteering's role in skills development, strengthened community engagement within the ESN network, and remarkable engagement metrics in the social media campaign. The initiative also facilitated the recognition and appreciation of volunteers' skills and accomplishments, thereby enhancing their visibility and employability prospects.
While the initiative primarily focused on online promotion, webinars, and social campaigns, locally organized events funded by university resources and internal funds also contributed to its success. Furthermore, partnerships with external organizations such as the Italian National Youth Council (CNG) and ASviS (Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development) facilitated the disseminating of training opportunities and resources.
Overall, the initiative yielded positive outcomes and achieved its goals, with the interactive social media campaign serving as a strategic tool for fostering personal involvement and community engagement. Looking ahead, opportunities for improvement include increasing the number of workshops focused on hard skills gained through ESN experiences, thereby further enhancing the professional development of volunteers.
