PROGRAM: ALCOTRA
PRIORITY: Active citizenship programs / Educational programs for young people and professionals
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: To carry out sports and educational initiatives through cross-border exchanges of young people aged 14 to 15
DURATION: 3 months following the project’s completion date, set for October 31, 2025
TOTAL AMOUNT: €258,750.00
AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE GRAN PARADISO AREA: €70,000.00
LEAD PARTNER: Département de la Savoie
PARTNERS: Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta (Italy), Fondazione Montagna Sicura, Fédération des œuvres laïques de Savoie, Fédération des œuvres laïques de Haute-Savoie
ROLE OF FONDATION GRAND PARADIS: Implementing entity appointed by the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta
The “Respiration Jeunesse” project aims to work with French and Italian youth through various educational and immersive programs designed for adolescents aged 12 to 15 from all social backgrounds 38. In this context, the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta has designated the Fondation Grand Paradis as the implementing entity for the activities planned in the Gran Paradiso, which will take place during the 2024 fiscal year. These initiatives involve the Foundation hosting the French and Italian youth participating in the project in Cogne for several days in January and February 2024 to carry out work and activities—primarily outdoor—that are compatible with sustainable tourism in the Gran Paradiso National Park, with the involvement of various mountain professionals; furthermore, the films from the Gran Paradiso Film Festival will be showcased and presented to participants as part of the project.
The project aims to achieve the following main objectives:
• to create opportunities for groups of young people particularly affected by the COVID-19 health crisis; • to enable young people from Savoie, Haute-Savoie, and the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta to spend time together during which they can “truly breathe”—in the sense of reconnecting with the natural world, even beyond borders—through experimental cross-border mobility programs for young people focused on the mountains, sports, and the educational and civic values they embody;
• to raise awareness among young people about key issues affecting mountain regions, such as the growing role of digital technology and climate change, while promoting active and informed citizenship, with the aim of making them aware of professional and life opportunities within the ALCOTRA territory.
To implement the agreement, the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta will pay Fondation Grand Paradis a total maximum amount of €70,000 (including VAT) as compensation for the services and collaborative activities carried out.