YMCA took part in this year’s European Education and Skills Summit, where representatives Jessica Woitalla and Dragoș Tarța joined experts and policymakers to explore new directions for education and training across the continent.
The event highlighted Europe’s vision for competitive and inclusive learning systems, better professional training, and future-proof skills development, affirming the EU’s ongoing commitment to equipping young people for meaningful participation in society and the labor market.
Alongside the main sessions, the YMCA delegation also participated in a high-level meeting with Ms. Vanessa Debiais-Sainton, Member of the Cabinet of Executive Vice President of the European Commission Roxana Mînzatu. The exchange focused on how civil society and youth organizations can collaborate with European institutions to ensure the wellbeing of young people in an era of rapid social and economic transformation.
This dialogue reaffirmed YMCA Europe’s role as a key partner in advocating for education systems that prioritize inclusion, resilience, and lifelong learning, supporting youth across Europe in adapting to the changing world of work.
As one of Europe’s most active civil society organizations in the field of digital skilling, non-formal education and digital equity, YMCA Europe’s presence at the European Education and Skills Summit has allowed us to further our alignment with European level priorities and to continue developing programs for the communities we serve, programmes that address the most pressing needs of today.
Furthermore, our active involvement in shaping policy, as well as our capacity for institutional dialogue, position us as a key actor in the field and allow us to shape the future of Europe, grounded in a grassroots perspective.
Looking ahead, YMCA Europe is poised to maintain and expand its contributions, leveraging strong partnerships with European institutions, private sector partners, and local communities. Our participation in the European Education and Skills Summit serves not only as recognition of our ongoing work but also as a platform to influence future policies and deliver innovative, inclusive, and sustainable solutions that empower Europe’s youth to thrive in an ever-changing world.
