Young Voices In Lübeck: my experience at Act.Ival for Future

So what happens when you bring young people together from across Europe? You create a space where they can learn from each other, exchange ideas and inspire each other to take meaningful action. That’s exactly what Act.Ival for Future achieved in the German city of Lübeck. Far from being an ordinary conference, Act.Ival was a dynamic mix of workshops, collaboration and open discussion, a place where young people come together to both talk about change and shape it. 

Act.Ival is a conference for young Europeans active in civil society or who want to make a change to exchange ideas, learn and inspire each other, organised yearly by SAME, a German-based NGO network with a strong focus on the topic of solidarity.

As a Young European Ambassador, I was incredibly grateful to be invited. From the moment I arrived at the hostel, there was a buzz of enthusiasm and everyone I met was keen to connect and contribute. One of the moments that stayed with me was meeting my team, named Pristina, after the capital of Kosovo. Within minutes I was reminded of just how essential young people are in civil society. Being surrounded by such passionate individuals was hugely inspiring. Outside of the formal programme, we were given the opportunity to join evening activities where we learnt national dances from various countries and also took part in challenges. 

The workshops were another highlight. It was fascinating to hear from speakers who had experience in various topics such as activism, and getting involved. It was especially exciting to see two of our own YEAs, Freya and Moritz, running their own workshops. My group was assigned to Freya’s workshop where she discussed political manipulation and its impact on democracy. Beyond the sessions, I was also able to discuss with other participants the organisations they had come with. Many were involved with student-led initiatives, and their work revealed how much young people were already doing across Europe. 

Being a part of Act.Ival was a privilege and I left Lübeck with a renewed sense of optimism and confidence in our generation. If the future of Europe is shaped by the young people I met, then I have every reason to feel hopeful. I left feeling more connected to others and feeling more motivated to contribute to my community.