In the framework of Generation Europe – The Academy, local youth groups took to the streets and event venues in 14 European countries! Under the slogan „Act Local – Connect European – Think Global“, they have declared 4 to 11 October 2024 as their European Action Week. They all are committed to positive change in their local communities. Here are eight examples of their remarkable activities:
Romania: Children’s Day & Charity Gulaș
The local group from Târgu Mureș organised an autumn children’s day in Tirimia, Romania. 40 children and young people from the Saint Francis Foundation and the local area took part. The aim was to foster community building and active citizenship. The programme included team-building and community development activities, fun and sports games, and was topped off by a charity goulash dinner. The program was planned and led by twelve students from the 12th A class of Bolyai Farkas Theoretical High School, with the help of their headteacher and the project coordinator from Outward Bound Romania.
Lithuania: Short Film Competition Award
Dare to overcome your fears, dare to trust yourself, to feel happy and successful, and to shape your own future and the future of others! The local youth group from Telšiai, Lithuania has shot the beginning of a short film, and called for a challenge: Everybody between the ages of 14 and 29 was invited to expand the film. During European Action Week the young filmmakers with the best ideas have been rewarded. The large community event took place at an unconventional public space, the central bus station of the city. The group provided food, organised music performances from young artists, table football and karaoke.
Italy: Action Week Radio
The local group organised by the Italian youth organisation Esplora is publishing an interview podcast called „Ai Nostri Tempi“, focusing on intergenerational dialogue. For the European Action Week, they were cooperating with the local web broadcaster Wideline Radio in the city of Pordenone. A full day of action took place at a street stand in front of their broadcasting studio and on the air. They presented Generation Europe – The Academy and their podcast, encouraging passers-by to share their opinions in interviews. There also were interviews with other youth associations, and with a researcher and a software developer in the field of artificial intelligence. At the street stand, they provided Food to invite people to chat and linger.
Germany: Your Statement Against the Far-Right
The local youth group supported by PI München has been building an art installation out of trash in order to artistically present quotes from European right-wing parties, combined with a public action. On Sendlinger-Tor-Platz in Munich, they informed about what leading politicians from right-wing parties are expressing. By this, they draw attention to the dangers of racism and social exclusion. People passing by were encouraged to participate, and people could make their own statements against right-wing populism.
Sneak Preview: Vóto Mòdo
The local youth group gathered around young artists’ collectives VEG.GEA (Florence, Italy) and MASC (Prato, Italy) has produced „Vóto Mòdo“, a documentary film that explores the complexity of voting. They interviewed members of committees, coalitions and parties running for the municipal elections in Florence and Prato in June 2024. The group has just finalised the post-production of the documentary, and now it was screened as an absolute preview during the European Action Week. At the event, journalist Cesare Baccheschi interviewed the young filmmakers, revealing the background and their creative path. After the screening there was a lively discussion, including several local politicians. The project was realised by Enrico Budri and Andrea Virginia Fantoni, in collaboration with Centro di Creazione e Cultura and the VEG.GEA and MASC collectives in the framework of Generation Europe – The Academy. (Photos: Alice Risaliti)
Spain: Theatre for Tolerance
The local youth group organised by the Federico Ozanam Foundation from Zaragoza used the European Action Week to prepare a theatre performance to reflect about their experience as racialised people living in Spain. They wanted to talk about the discrimination they suffer in their daily lives as members of different groups. Through art, they are proposing a joint dialogue on racism, islamophobia, machismo, classism, homophobia, etc. and looking for solutions together. The theatre play will premiere at Museo del Fuego in Zaragoza at 18:00 on 23 October. Besides this intensive project, the activists wanted to celebrate the European Action Week together with their project parnters and friends from Italy and Germany. So they organised an online meeting to share experiences from the local activities of the three groups of their partnership. The youngsters had a great time together at their third youth encounter in Italy this summer and wanted to remember and talk.
VarieTEA Podcast on the Streets
The local group supported by Internationales Forum Burg Liebenzell is publishing a podcast called ‘VarieTEA’, being a forum for diversity and mutual understanding. For the podcast, interesting people are interviewed over a cup of tea – to be a source of enlightenment, and to bring society back together. During European Action Week, they started a street campaign in Stuttgart, Germany. The young people asked people passing by questions that they usually discuss with their podcast guests. The conversations will be published on social media to foster open dialogue and exchange.