The first event of the European Project UNDER kicks off in Orte: training, culture, and a future for young people in underground sites
Orte, May 28, 2025 — The first event of the UNDER (Underground Navigators Exploring and Revealing) project has officially begun in Orte. This new and ambitious European initiative, funded by the Erasmus+ program, aims to enhance the role of young people and underground cultural heritage through training and professional development pathways. From May 28 to 31, the underground site of Orte is hosting a job shadowing mobility, marking the tangible start of an innovative program based on experiential learning and transnational cooperation.
Promoted through a bottom-up approach, UNDER addresses shared needs for professional training, skill development, and reskilling among staff working in small European entities that manage underground sites, with a special focus on youth. The project includes three international mobilities, with future stages planned in Sümeg, Hungary, and in the Znojmo Region, Czech Republic.
Young people as protagonists of history and innovation
During the week in Orte, young cultural operators from various European organizations are taking part in an intensive job shadowing experience. By directly observing the work of guides and managers at the local underground site, participants learn best practices in the management, promotion, and storytelling of underground cultural heritage.
“UNDER is an extraordinary opportunity to shape a new generation of professionals capable of combining passion, expertise, and civic engagement,” say the project promoters. Core goals include promoting European identity, celebrating cultural diversity, and creating career paths in tourism and heritage conservation.
A European network for the future of heritage
The project also aims to strengthen collaboration among small local associations, national institutions, and European bodies, building stable and sustainable networks to support the exchange of best practices and the active involvement of young people.
Expected outcomes include the development of shared educational programs, career guidance tools, and new skills for young European tour guides, enabling them to improve their performance both locally and internationally.
The work launched in Orte is just the first step in a journey that seeks to elevate underground heritage not only as a tourist asset but as a driver of social, cultural, and economic growth.
UNDER is coordinated by the municipality of St. Julian’s, Malta, and involves a partnership including ACe20 (Italy), Várkapitány Lovagi Torna Egyesület (Hungary), and Znojemské Podhorácko (Czech Republic). The shared goal is to build a more inclusive, skilled, and connected professional future for young people working in the field of European cultural heritage.
