I was born and raised in Trieste, Northern East of Italy, a city defined by its border by Slovenia. But I was fortunate to move abroad quite early, and since then, I’ve crossed many boundaries. I’ve explored them on the other side of the world, living for years in New Zealand and Australia. Upon my return to Europe, I continued living in border contexts, from Skuodas, in northern Lithuania on the Latvian border, to Copenhagen, separated from Malmö, Sweden, only by a bridge.
This unique experience taught me the difference between a geographical border and a genuine barrier. That is why I became a Youth4Cooperation Cross-Border Ambassador: to address our region’s biggest challenge. Between Italy and Slovenia, there is a less tangible yet equally impactful boundary on the next generation: the social and linguistic barrier.
Our proximity should be our greatest strength, but persistent obstacles keep citizens mentally and physically distant. The most crucial is the mental and social barrier among citizens, tied to language and the lack of common activities.