On April 11 and 12, YMCA Europe had the chance to attend the LevelUp! 2024 event held by the European Youth Forum.
Inviting 1,300 young participants from various countries across Europe, the event aims to empower young activists and equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to advocate for their causes.
At the same time, the event hopes to increase awareness and voter participation in the upcoming European elections, which will be held from the 6th to the 9th of June.
YMCA Europe is represented by four delegates: Emanuella Gier, National Youth Representative of YMCA Serbia, Elisavet-Athina Bimpiri, National Youth Representative of YMCA Greece, Jakub Palenčík, National Youth Representative of YMCA Slovakia, and Samantha Christian from the YMCA Europe staff team.
Throughout the two days, the group attended 5 workshops of their choice, each ranging from topics such as democracy, and human rights, to public speaking and artificial intelligence.
Through interactive exercises and engaging discussions, our delegates gained a deeper understanding of the principles that underpin democratic societies and the roles of youth in shaping their future.
The delegates learned about pressing issues facing Europe and the world, and the intersectionality of human rights, whilst learning about how to set up meaningful campaigns that leverage both real-life and digital platforms to make their voices heard on issues that matter the most to them. They also had the pleasure of talking to decision-makers and fellow passionate youth from diverse backgrounds.
As the event drew to a close, participants were filled with energy and enthusiasm to apply the knowledge they have learned in real life and foster a future of inclusivity, justice, and democratic practices in Europe.
YMCA Europe’s participation in European dialogues like LevelUp! 2024 is crucial. It ensures that the voices of our youth not only contribute to but help shape the conversation on critical issues. Engaging in these forums empowers our representatives to influence policies and drive meaningful change across Europe.