DESTINAZIONE FARO is a Servizio Civile Universale project abroad promoted by OPES in Portugal, in the city of Faro. The project was created with the aim of strengthening youth participation in social and cultural activities of public benefit, while also promoting the dissemination of European policies and the opportunities connected to active citizenship.

Included in the programme “Giovani europei per la pace”, the project develops within an international context in which youth engagement, intercultural dialogue, and the creation of territorial networks represent essential tools for generating inclusion, awareness, and participation.

Project Objectives

The project aims to increase youth participation in social and cultural activities of public benefit and in the dissemination of European policies.

In particular, the project seeks to:

  • promote active citizenship and youth protagonism;
  • support training pathways and capacity‑building activities for young people and local organisations;
  • foster knowledge of European opportunities and involvement in project‑design and cooperation pathways;
  • support the organisation of cultural events, workshops, and educational initiatives;
  • strengthen social and digital communication as a tool for information, awareness‑raising, and participation.

Main Activities

The activities of DESTINAZIONE FARO are structured across several levels.

A first area concerns research work, including the collection and analysis of information to understand the needs, opportunities, and priorities of the territory, as well as supporting monitoring and dissemination of results.

The project then provides support for the implementation of training pathways and capacity‑building activities, in which volunteers collaborate in organisation, communication, participant management, and preparation of materials, also contributing to feedback collection and activity evaluation.

Another central area concerns the organisation of events, workshops, and cultural activities dedicated to the development of active citizenship. In this context, volunteers work alongside professionals in preparing content, providing logistical and communication support, welcoming participants, and disseminating results.

The project also includes reception and accompaniment activities linked to incoming and outgoing initiatives and projects, with a strong connection to European project design and support for associations and young people in building and developing cultural and educational interventions.

Finally, an important component is communication, both offline and online: volunteers participate in content creation, graphic and creative support, the development of information campaigns, the production of web and social content, and the monitoring of engagement with the promoted activities.

Impact on the Territory and Beneficiaries

DESTINAZIONE FARO helps strengthen the role of young people as active actors in the social and cultural life of the territory. The project promotes the creation of spaces for participation, dialogue, and collaboration, where young people can gain greater awareness of European opportunities and engage in concrete pathways of active citizenship.

The expected impact concerns both the young people directly involved in the activities and the local associative and community fabric, which benefits from cultural, training, and communication initiatives capable of generating connections, skills, and new opportunities for participation.

The project also contributes to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, particularly Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), promoting inclusion, democratic participation, cooperation, and dialogue.

Training and Growth Opportunities for Volunteers

For volunteer operators, DESTINAZIONE FARO represents an intense learning experience in an international and intercultural context. Young participants take part in organisational processes, communication, support for European project design, and the development of events and educational activities, strengthening skills that are useful both personally and professionally.

Throughout the project, volunteers can develop skills in:

  • active citizenship and youth participation;
  • organising cultural and training events;
  • social, digital, and institutional communication;
  • supporting European project‑design pathways;
  • monitoring, feedback collection, and reporting;
  • teamwork and cooperation in international contexts.

The experience requires adaptability, responsibility, flexibility, and relational skills, while offering an important opportunity for human and professional growth, oriented toward international solidarity, European dialogue, and the creation of more participatory and inclusive communities.