New meeting of the National Youth Panel on civil protection topics
On December 17 and 18, members met to address new issues and submit proposals
“Your work is of strategic importance to the Department and the entire National Civil Protection Service. The proposals emerging here will form the foundation for activities the System will pursue in the coming years. As civil protection faces new scenarios, we must remain ready to adapt and tackle increasingly complex challenges.” With these words, Fabio Ciciliano, Head of Department, expressed his gratitude to the volunteers who participated in the new meeting of the National Youth Panel on civil protection topics at the Department's operational headquarters.
Two days of learning, brainstorming, and meaningful discussions focused on key issues raised by the members, including spontaneous volunteering, youth involvement in volunteer organizations, school camps, and collaboration with other third-sector organizations.
As always, the young volunteers worked in groups on specific topics and later shared their ideas and proposals during a plenary session, which was also attended by the Head of Department.
The ideas that emerged over these two days build on those already presented at the conference “Il futuro è adesso” (The future is now), held on October 4 at REAS – the International Exhibition for Rescue, Fire Fighting, Disaster Relief, and Security. On that occasion, volunteers addressed key topics such as exchanges with other youth organizations, twinning and training exchanges, the establishment of regional youth round tables, identity, and communication.
The meetings of the National Youth Panel provide valuable input for the renewal of the system and the enhancement of knowledge and skills, including through the active participation of young people in the activities of civil protection volunteer organizations. The proposals that emerge from each meeting are then assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Department, whose role is to verify their feasibility.
The next meeting of the Panel is scheduled for March 2026. In the meantime, the young members will continue to build on what has emerged so far, in coordination with the Department.