Introduction

Dear reader,

We are proud to present the fourth edition of the Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) Magazine for this year. Written by YEAs from across the EU, the UK, and the Eastern Partnership countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, are 29 articles covering an array of topics on our 2024 theme of ‘connections’ - a concept close to the core values of our network and what it means to be a YEA. 

Our YEAs have taken this theme and worked on what ‘connections’ mean to them: from activism to Erasmus experiences, national identity to shared history. As you read, we encourage you to reflect in turn on what the theme of ‘connections’ means to you.

Over the past several months, our YEAs have worked tirelessly as writers, editors, and coordinators to produce what you are currently reading. The result is a magazine that is filled with the creative talents and inspiring voices of our YEAs. We are thrilled by the finished product and hope that you will enjoy reading it.

The EU/UK Young European Ambassador Board

Elsie Haldane, YEA Magazine Coordinator, Maria Pia Napoletano, EU,UK and Belarus YEAs Coordinator, Ebba Fagerlund, EU,UK and Belarus YEAs Community Manager, Freya Proudman, EU,UK and Belarus YEAs Mentorship Facilitator

Board members (2023/2024) Moritz Clauder, Patricia Raposo, Anna Romanovská

Index

Section 1: Connecting identities

Section 2: Connecting experiences

Section 3: Connecting countries

Section 4: Connecting communities

Section 5: Connecting cultures

Section 6: Connecting histories

Section 7: Connecting futures

The power of connections

By Salome Svanidze - an excerpt

Why global connections are a key driver for positive change

Exploring the power of connections is like uncovering a hidden treasure chest. 

We've all heard about the idea, but do we truly grasp its importance? Every day, we connect with many people – family members, colleagues, friends, acquaintances, even strangers. Sometimes, we don't even realise how much these connections mean to us, and we might even take them for granted. Nevertheless, life without them would definitely be mundane.

But what about connections on a more global scale?

I truly believe that the essence of connections lies in their remarkable ability to broaden our horizons and encourage us to think out of the box. One of the cornerstone events in my life that made me acknowledge this concept was my Erasmus+ experience back in 2020, when I had the unforgettable experience of living among almost 15 diverse nationalities.

Read the full article here

Culinary Diplomacy

by Andrei-Dragoș Tarța - an excerpt

How can culinary diplomacy enhance bridge building in Europe and protect culinary traditions of Eastern Partnership states?

When we think of diplomacy, our mind often jumps to high-level summits between formally-dressed diplomats and intense negotiations. 

But what we tend to forget is the fact that we are all diplomats in our own ways. In this era of endless interconnectivity, where we interact with different cultures on a daily basis, every single citizen can be a diplomat, sharing culturally meaningful aspects of their society with their peers and exploring and understanding cultural differences. Taking into account the ease of travel across Europe, it is not uncommon to experience various cultures through journeys to all corners of the continent, interacting directly with most aspects of life in a country or region.

Read the full article here

More than cousins

by Sofia Camaglia - an excerpt

More than cousins: an Italian discovering Georgia

Exploring the power of connections is like uncovering a hidden treasure chest. 

We've all heard about the idea, but do we truly grasp its importance? Every day, we connect with many people – family members, colleagues, friends, acquaintances, even strangers. Sometimes, we don't even realise how much these connections mean to us, and we might even take them for granted. Nevertheless, life without them would definitely be mundane.

But what about connections on a more global scale?

I truly believe that the essence of connections lies in their remarkable ability to broaden our horizons and encourage us to think out of the box. One of the cornerstone events in my life that made me acknowledge this concept was my Erasmus+ experience back in 2020, when I had the unforgettable experience of living among almost 15 diverse nationalities.

Read the full article here

How fire spreads 

By Andreea Chilaru - an excerpt

Determination within Moldova’s young activist community 

Moldova is a small slice of land in Eastern Europe, nestled between Romania and Ukraine. It is a beautiful and vibrant country, filled with picturesque nature and wholesome traditions. But what makes it truly special is the tight-knit young activist community working at its core to improve our society and make it a brighter place. 

The thing about us Moldovans is that if we start something, we are not likely to stop halfway. That is why the most active people in our community are all friends, or at least we know each other, and we all compete, pushing ourselves constantly beyond our comfort zones. 

My initiation meeting in the YEAs’ programme was very much a fever dream. I entered the room, and everybody seemed familiar. I found myself saying things like “Have I seen you before?” and “Weren’t you at that reception at the ambassador’s residence?” Lots of people kept coming up to me, asking me how I was doing, all while I sat there and desperately tried to understand where they knew me from and why their faces were so familiar. And while it was a disorienting experience, it was not an uncommon one.

Read the full article here

Armenia's rich cultural heritage

by Damla Ceyda Uzun - an excerpt

Armenia’s rich cultural heritage - a journey through different times and civilisations 

Armenia is a small country in the Southern Caucasus that is a traveller’s paradise. Discovering Armenia, the visitor will connect to different times and cultures. Strolling around the capital city Yerevan, which is considered one of the oldest cities in the world, the rich cultural heritage of the country can be seen in a variety of traditional restaurants, markets, the opera house, and theatre, or in some of the traditional shops selling unique carpets.

Driving out of the capital and passing through villages of small and traditional houses, it seems as if time has stood still. The presence of ancient temples and monasteries reflects Armenia’s rich history and connection with ancient civilisations. Spending two weeks in Armenia as an exchange student felt like being at the crossroads between East and West, as well as modernity and tradition.

Taking a look at Armenia today, it is considered as a country of the East, culturally and politically. Many factors contribute to this perception: besides its geographical position are its recent history and Soviet heritage. But looking back in history, Armenia played a far more central role in the European world. Looking back, we see how Armenia has been influenced by many cultures and civilisations.

Read the full article here

Revolution on Granite

by Kateryna Kalyta - en excerpt

The Revolution on Granite in 1990: how Ukrainian youth defied the Soviet Ukraine

The Revolution on Granite (named after the paving stones on which the protesters’ tents were pitched) was a student protest that broke out in Ukraine in 1990 and played a great role in spreading principles of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and human rights.  It is seen as one of the most successful youth protests in the history of Ukraine, and one of the founding events that sowed the seeds of an independent Ukraine.

The revolution was a campaign of large-scale, non-violent actions, organised by Ukrainian youth, mainly students, which lasted from 2-17 October, 1990. The core of the protest was the student hunger strike in the tent city on October Revolution Square in Kyiv. The protesters were constantly going to the Verhovkna Rada, the Parliament of Ukrainian SSR, and the leaders of the activists were invited to the session of the Parliament to present the demands of the Revolution. Afterwards, the Revolution gained the support of Kyiv National University, the Kyiv Polytechnic and universities in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk. 

In total, the revolution lasted for 16 days during which 298 students and nine deputies joined the strike.

Read the full article here

What are constitutional amendments?

By Artemij Vashkevich - an excerpt

It is generally believed that the role of constitutional amendments ends when the adoption of a new constitution is required. Thus, "typical" amendments are used to solve specific problems without violating the integrity of the constitutional order. For example, all the states of the European Union have brought their constitutions in line with the requirements of the modern integration process.

In general, amendments usually do not contradict core values such as democracy, the rule of law, or respect for human rights. However, history shows that even stable democracies can propose destructive constitutional changes. And although such initiatives usually do not go beyond parliamentary meetings, there is no guarantee that they will not be implemented.

Based on Belarusian experience and the experience of our neighbours from Russia, for many Belarusians the concept of “constitutional amendments” sounds like something negative and even provocative. Since independence, such amendments have been made not to improve people's lives, but to achieve the ruling elite's own interests. For example, in 1995, Alexander Lukashenko held a national referendum on changing the national symbols, replacing the white-red-white flag with the red-green one used in Soviet times, which violated the current Constitution, which stated that a referendum should not be held on this issue.

Read the full article here