On 31 July 2025, the second transnational meeting of the ‘From Past to the Future’ project took place in Tautavel (France), serving as a key forum for joint work in which the European partners strengthened their collaboration and aligned their strategies for the project’s development.
During the meeting, partnerships between the participating organisations were consolidated, notably with the University of Burgos joining as a new partner to replace Europa 2020, as well as the positive outcome of the Erasmus+ audit, which endorses the strength of the networking work carried out.
Furthermore, the partners made coordinated progress in creating training materials, common protocols and digital tools, as well as jointly defining the model for the involvement of young ambassadors and their active participation in the project’s communication. The meeting also served to strengthen cooperation between organisations and lay the foundations for the next phases, including the launch of the international work placements.
A forward-looking pilot project
Launched in September 2024 and running for two years, ‘From Past to Future’ is currently in the implementation phase. The first work placements will begin shortly and registration for the training and work placement programme remains open.
‘From Past to Future’ is looking for curious, motivated young people with an interest in culture and science. The project is run entirely online using collaborative tools such as Slack, with the aim of removing financial and mobility barriers. Furthermore, there is the possibility that some participants may be offered professional roles within the institutions once the project has concluded.
“We want this initiative to grow and for more European museums and archaeological sites to get involved. Our aim is for the project to continue and become a stable model for youth participation,” said the Atapuerca Foundation.
The project is coordinated by the Atapuerca Foundation, which brings over 25 years’ experience in managing projects and programmes linked to the archaeo-palaeontological sites of the Sierra de Atapuerca, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
‘From Past to Future’ forms part of the Atapuerca Foundation’s projects division, established in 2023 to promote initiatives in line with its motto ‘Responsible Evolution, Conscious Progress’. Through this initiative, the Foundation reaffirms its commitment to building a more inclusive and connected society, in which young people play a leading role in the preservation and promotion of European cultural heritage.
This initiative, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, is supported by a number of renowned European organisations: Generazione Zero (Italy), Fundação Vall de Côa (Portugal), Redtree Making Projects (Spain), the Centre Européen de Recherches Préhistoriques de Tautavel (France) and the University of Burgos (UBU). The Atapuerca Foundation acts as the overall coordinator and is responsible for its management.
Click here to view the photos from the meeting.