YE Elec-trick+
Thanks to YouthFullyYours and CoconutWork, we had the opportunity to spend an unforgettable week in Luxembourg. The theme of the project Elec-trick+ was to gain a deeper understanding of how decision-making works in European institutions and to learn more about youth engagement in different countries. I believe we learned important, relevant and interesting facts about these topics from all across Europe.
Right from the first days, we started with presentations about the reality in our own countries. We focused mainly on political decision-making and on the involvement of young people in this area. This gave us a real and engaging look at Europe through the eyes of youth. But we didn’t only represent our countries from a political perspective. During the international evenings, we enjoyed fun quizzes, dancing and amazing food that let each of us share a piece of our home culture.
One of the highlights of the program was a simulation game where we got to experience how negotiations and decisions happen at the European level. Each of us took on a role, either as a representative of a member country or a European institution like the European Commission. Our negotiations followed official procedures, and in the end, we managed to reach an agreement on our problem – producing chocolate using vegetable oils. This activity gave us a practical sense of how European decision-making really works.
Of course, our week wasn’t just about presentations and workshops. It was also about discovering new places and meeting young people from all across Europe. We spent our free day in the capital city. Luxembourg City felt like a place out of a fairytale, surrounded by hills, beautiful nature and impressive architecture. We really enjoyed our time together, walking through the city, relaxing in the park and visiting the Museum of Modern Art.
With renewed energy, we took on another big challenge: creating an online campaign about the obstacles young people face when trying to get involved. The videos, presentations, infographics and programs we created were full of creativity and could easily be used in real life. They would definitely make an impact and help encourage youth participation, not only in politics but in many other areas, too.
On the final day, we had the chance to attend a conference about social economy at the office of the European Parliament in Luxembourg. It was a real-world experience of how important European institutions work at the highest elvel. We saw what meetings and conferences look like in practice. The museum in the same building was also a memorable part of the visit, offering interactive exhibits that explained the role and importance of the European Parliament, as well as introducing us today‘s comissioners.
Our week in Luxembourg was full of unforgettable experiences. We gained valuable knowledge, met inspiring young people, and had the chance to explore a beautiful new country. None of this would have been possible without YouthFullyYours and CoconutWork. Thank you, and we look forward to future projects together.
