Od 25. do 27. maja 2025 je nevladna organizacija YOUTHABILITY uspešno organizirala mednarodno konferenco evropskega programa »YET« v grških mestih Kastoria in Siatista. S podporo Občine Voio ter v sodelovanju z občinami iz Španije, Slovenije, Hrvaške in Romunije je dogodek poudaril moč mladinsko vodenega dialoga pri oblikovanju bolj vključujoče in povezane Evrope.
Dvodnevna konferenca je združila mlade državljane, lokalne voditelje in mednarodne partnerje na razpravah, delavnicah in študijskih obiskih, ki so izpostavili krepitev vloge mladih, trajnost ter evropsko identiteto. Uvodno zasedanje je vodila predsednica YOUTHABILITY ga. Maria Ntelia, ki je udeležence pozdravila in poudarila pomen medkulturnega dialoga ter vključevanja mladih pri krepitvi evropske povezanosti.
Sledil je bogat program govorov in panelnih razprav. G. Dimitrios Zefklis, vodja projektov EU, je predstavil govor z naslovom »Vloga glasov enotnosti pri spodbujanju delovanja mladih in kulturne raznolikosti«. Njegov nagovor je raziskal, kako lahko sodelovanje in enotnost med mladimi Evropejci premagata kulturne razlike in krepita solidarnost prek meja. Nato je strokovnjakinja za trajnostne agroživilske sisteme in mladinsko izobraževanje, ga. Katerina Solomonidou, predstavila temo »Kako lahko trajnostna in zelena EU postane bližja mladim državljanom?« s poudarkom na trajnosti, skrbi za okolje in zelenih politikah kot ključnih prioritetah prihodnosti Evrope, hkrati pa spodbudila mlade k aktivni vlogi v prehodu. Sledila je predstavitev »Vloga mladih kot arhitektov združene Evrope« s strani ga. Georgie Tsironi, strokovnjakinje za regionalni razvoj in kohezijske politike, ki je izpostavila pomen državljanske participacije in inovacij pri opolnomočenju mladih za oblikovanje prihodnjega evropskega poglavja.
Osrednji del programa so bile interaktivne delavnice Youth Power Labs, ki so udeležencem omogočile preoblikovanje idej v konkretna dejanja. Prvo delavnico »Prototipiranje rešitev za lokalne izzive EU« je izvedla ga. Dimitra Fantidou in udeležence spodbudila k timskemu delu ter oblikovanju inovativnih rešitev za izzive v lokalnih skupnostih – od državljanske participacije do trajnosti. Druga delavnica »Od lokalne do evropske ravni: Kako lahko mladi vplivajo na politike EU« je pomagala udeležencem pretvoriti lokalne pobude v predloge na evropski ravni ter zagotoviti, da glasovi mladih pomembno prispevajo k oblikovanju politik na celini.
Dogodek so dodatno obogatile okrogle mize in razprave. Med vrhunci je bila okrogla miza, ki jo je koordinirala ga. Stefania Zygomani, na temo »Miti in resničnosti EU: razbijanje evroskepticizma z mladinskim pripovedovanjem zgodb«. Mladi so neposredno delili pristne izkušnje in s spodbudnimi zgodbami evropskega sodelovanja odgovarjali na evroskepticizem.
Drugi dan konference je vključeval študijski obisk občine Voio in regionalnih institucij v Zahodni Makedoniji, kjer so udeleženci raziskovali mladinske politike, upravljanje in lokalne odločevalske procese. Na odprtem forumu o sooblikovanju javnega življenja so občine in mladi udeleženci dobili priložnost za konstruktiven dialog o skupnih odgovornostih in priložnostih. Zaključna razprava »Zeleni dogovor ali prazna obljuba? Mladi o evropski trajnostni agendi« je spodbudila živahno debato o okoljskih izzivih in vlogi mladih pri oblikovanju zelene prihodnosti Evrope.
Dogodek se je zaključil s slavnostnim kosilom in sklepno slovesnostjo, na kateri so predstavili dosežke programa YET ter potrdili zaveze za prihodnje sodelovanje. Za povečanje dosega je organizacija YOUTHABILITY pripravila obsežno komunikacijsko kampanjo, z rednimi posodobitvami na spletnih straneh, družbenih omrežjih, v novičnikih in medijih. Prav tako je bil pripravljen digitalni povzetek s posnetki, fotografijami in refleksijami udeležencev, da bi navdihnili druge skupnosti in zagotovili nadaljevanje dialoga na lokalni in evropski ravni.
Konferenca YET, ki jo je organizirala nevladna organizacija YOUTHABILITY, je dokazala preobrazbeno moč mladinsko vodenih pobud pri gradnji vključujoče in odporne Evrope. S pomočjo vrhunskih govorov, interaktivnih Youth Power Labs, kulturnih izmenjav in sodelovalnih razprav so udeleženci odšli opolnomočeni z novimi idejami in orodji za spodbujanje sprememb v svojih skupnostih in širše.
From May 25 to 27, 2025, YOUTHABILITY NGO successfully organized the international conference of the European program “YET” in Kastoria and Siatista, Greece. With the support of the Municipality of Voio and in cooperation with municipalities from Spain, Slovenia, Croatia, and Romania, the event highlighted the power of youth-driven dialogue in shaping a more inclusive and united Europe.
The two-day conference brought together young citizens, local leaders, and international partners for discussions, workshops, and study visits that emphasized youth empowerment, sustainability, and European identity. The opening session was led by Ms. Maria Ntelia, President of YOUTHABILITY, who welcomed participants and stressed the importance of intercultural dialogue and youth engagement in strengthening European cohesion.
A rich agenda of speeches and panel discussions followed, starting with Mr. Dimitrios Zefklis, EU Project Manager, who delivered a talk on “The Role of Voices of Unity in Promoting Youth’s Action and Cultural Diversity.” His speech explored how collaboration and unity among young Europeans can bridge cultural divides and enhance solidarity across borders. Katerina Solomonidou, an expert on sustainable agri-food systems and youth education then presented “How Can a Sustainable and Green EU Be Closer to Young Citizens?” focusing on sustainability, environmental stewardship, and green policies as essential priorities for Europe’s future, while encouraging young people to take an active role in the transition. This was followed by a presentation on “The Role of Youth as the Architects of United Europe” by Georgia Tsironi, an expert in regional development and cohesion policies, who emphasized the importance of civic participation and innovation in empowering young people to shape Europe’s next chapter.
Interactive sessions known as Youth Power Labs formed the heart of the program, enabling participants to transform ideas into concrete action. The first lab implemented by Dimitra Fantidou, “Prototyping Solutions for Local EU Challenges,” encouraged participants to work in teams and design innovative solutions for issues faced in their local communities, ranging from civic participation to sustainability. The second, “From Local to European Level: Exploring How Youth Can Influence EU Policy,” helped participants turn local initiatives into European-level proposals, ensuring that the perspectives of young people could contribute meaningfully to policy-making across the continent.
Debates and round tables further enriched the event. One of the highlights was the round table discussion coordinated by Stefania Zygomani on “EU Myths & Realities: Busting Euroscepticism through Youth-Led Storytelling,” where young participants used their voices to challenge misconceptions, share authentic experiences, and counter Euroscepticism with inspiring narratives of European cooperation.
The second day of the conference included a study visit to the Municipality of Voio and regional institutions in Western Macedonia, where participants explored youth policies, governance, and local decision-making processes. An open forum on co-designing civic life gave municipalities and young citizens the chance to engage in constructive dialogue about shared responsibilities and opportunities. The final debate, “Green Deal or Raw Deal? Youth on Europe’s Sustainability Agenda,” sparked an animated discussion on environmental challenges and the role of youth in shaping Europe’s green future.
The event concluded with a celebratory lunch and closing ceremony where the achievements of YET were recognized, and commitments to future cooperation were reaffirmed. To maximize the impact, YOUTHABILITY coordinated a wide-reaching communication campaign, with updates shared through websites, social media, newsletters, and media outlets. A digital summary including videos, photos, and participant reflections was also produced to inspire other communities and ensure continuity of dialogue at both local and European levels.
The YET conference, organized by YOUTHABILITY NGO, proved the transformative power of youth-led initiatives in building an inclusive and resilient Europe. Through high-level speeches, interactive Youth Power Labs, cultural exchanges, and collaborative debates, participants left empowered with new ideas and tools to drive change in their communities and beyond.
