The Seville Provincial Federation of Associations for People with Physical and Organic Disabilities, COCEMFE Seville, has reinforced its commitment to inclusive youth participation through the experience of its volunteer, David Iglesias, at European Youth Week. Held on 24 April at the European Parliament in Brussels, this opening day became the focal point for dialogue on youth, solidarity and inclusion.
Under the slogan ‘Solidarity and Equity’, the event marked the 30th anniversary of European volunteering and brought together more than 1,000 young people from various countries. The presence of David Iglesias, representing the Seville-based organisation and the voluntary sector for people with physical and organic disabilities, served as a real-life example of inclusive and participatory volunteering, where young people with disabilities take an active role in public advocacy.
During his stay, the volunteer was accompanied by Juan Carlos Romero, a mentor trained by the federation for the Erasmus+ TEAM IV programme. This technical support is based on a methodology centred on personalised support, progressive autonomy and the creation of real opportunities for participation.
Furthermore, this joint participation highlighted the synergies between two of the organisation’s key projects:
- TEAM IV: Focused on mentoring as a tool for inclusion and youth support.
- Digit2Me: An Erasmus+ initiative in which Juan Carlos Romero is currently training as a digital mentor. Its aim is to improve the digital skills, social inclusion and independent living of vulnerable young people, particularly those with disabilities and those living in rural areas.
The opening session in the chamber was supported by leaders at the highest level, including Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission), Roberta Metsola (President of the European Parliament) and Glenn Micallef (Commissioner for Intergenerational Equity, Youth, Culture and Sport). Within this institutional framework, the Seville delegation exchanged experiences and best practices on accessibility with representatives from Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Lithuania and Montenegro.
They also visited the ‘marketplace’ area, connecting with networks such as Eurodesk, the European Youth Forum and the Spanish Youth Council to discuss key issues such as mobility, gender equality and the rights of people with disabilities.
The value of genuine and effective inclusion
For COCEMFE Sevilla, this milestone consolidates a strategic approach aimed at connecting young people with disabilities in the province with the European Union’s decision-making bodies. This experience demonstrates that genuine inclusion is not limited to formal access to programmes, but requires an effective presence and the recognition of people with disabilities as key agents of social transformation for Europe’s shared future.
