On the 12th and 13th of April, a dozen of members from the Youth Regional Network (YRN) had the chance to join LevelUP!, a large-scale youth event organised by the European Youth Forum (YFJ), and which gathered around 1,300 young people from across Europe at the European Parliament, ahead of the European elections. During two intense days, they had the opportunity to benefit from capacity-building activities, training and debates with politicians, institutional representatives, and youth organisations, to share their experience, and to exchange views and best practices with young people.
A few YRN members share their feedback on the experience in the present article:
Mathilde, 23 years old, Wallonia, Belgium
From 12 to 13 April, we attended LevelUP!, an event organized by the European Youth Forum. It was a unique opportunity for YRN members to get together, develop our knowledge, and network with other people!
As Chair of the Youth Participation Committee, I was particularly happy to represent the YRN and talk to other young people active in promoting the interests of youth. In addition, I was also a volunteer during the 2 days of LevelUP!. This allowed me to be involved both from the inside and the outside (as a participant). I was able to develop and strengthen links with the members of the European Youth Forum. I would like to thank them again for their warm welcome and for managing the event, which was a great success. I was particularly impressed by the opening and closing sessions in the European Parliament. Seeing all these young people gathered in the hemicycle, motivated by the same desire for action and change, was a very motivating and powerful image!
It was also very nice to meet the members of the YRN and I hope to have the chance to see them again soon! I am also looking forward to the next event where I can represent the YRN!
Javahir, 22 years old, Azerbaijan and Scotland
12-13 April. I had the privilege of joining 1,200 young leaders at the European Parliament in Brussels for the transformative LevelUP! event. What an incredible two days of learning, connecting, and growing!
LevelUP! brought together experts and organisations from across Europe, each dedicated to enhancing our abilities in communication, advocacy, and organising. This event was not just about imparting knowledge; it was about equipping us to make tangible impacts ahead of the 2024 European Elections.
Leaders from all walks of life came together – diverse in backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and abilities. LevelUP! proved to be a profoundly inclusive space, committed to accessibility and empowering every participant.
My Key Takeaways
# The importance of crafting impactful communication strategies.
# New techniques in advocacy that are essential for effective campaigning.
# The power of organising and collaborating with like-minded peers for greater reach.
Representing the Youth Regional Network! Representing this organisation at LevelUP! was not only an honour but also a pivotal networking opportunity. It was inspiring to meet so many dedicated individuals poised to shape a better world.
A heartfelt thank you to the European Youth Forum and the European Parliament for organising such a powerful and impactful event. Your efforts in bringing us together are deeply appreciated.
Armed with new skills and insights, I am more ready than ever to drive positive change. The connections made and lessons learned at LevelUP! will undoubtedly influence my future initiatives.
Thank you, LevelUP! for an unforgettable experience. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve together!
Jona, 24 years old, Albania
My experience at the LevelUP! event in the European Parliament in Brussels, on April 12-13, was a wonderful experience that made me feel part of an important movement for young people. Discussions and debates about the European elections and the importance of our participation in the voting process revealed a new perspective and inspired a strong commitment to influencing the future of the European Union. The activity gave us the opportunity to create a broader network, get to know each other, as well as our aspirations and ideals that we need to achieve, and also to contribute to this important debate about our future. I’m grateful to the YRN organisation for giving me the opportunity to participate in this event.
Maria-Parthena, 24 years old, Central Macedonia, Greece
From the 11th to the 14th of April, I had the opportunity to join the LevelUP! event in Brussels, as
part of the YRN delegation. It was a really exciting opportunity as I got to participate in a pan-
European youth event for the first time and engage with a lot of diverse people in the field of
youth participation. LevelUP! provided us with a wide range of topics that are of interest for
young people but also key issues at the moment, from artificial intelligence and multimedia to youth-related processes and policies.
The Youth Regional Network has been a extraordinary platform for regional cooperation between young people and it was refreshing getting to meet people with the same views and values regarding the role of youth in today’s society. On to the next one!
Olsa, 24 years old, Albania
For a young person wishing to get the most out of everything, seeking to learn and blend in with everyone, I would have to say that this might be the right opportunity. Gathered with more than 1,200 young people from all around Europe, from different backgrounds and each one with its own unique experiences to share, LevelUp is the one you should be looking for.
This year, I had the chance to participate through the Youth Regional Network and get to meet some amazing fellows of YRN which I also shared some great moments with. I am glad to be part of a network who promotes young people and makes it possible to dive in many of the opportunities and support it offers. And at the end of the day, these are the opportunities we need in our age to make connections which can also lead to remarkable chances, right? And LevelUP is one of them.
During two very intense days, I had the chance to dive in to different workshops with many great and inspiring speakers sharing their insightful work in their respective areas, sharing opinions but also giving us space to voice our words on some of the most concerning and hot topics of the moment. This by also blending fun and social activities to make it a truly rememberable experience for us all. I was able to get informed on the many opportunities the EU offers to young people and how to have access to them. It is important to share the word and make young people involved. Many of the workshops I followed included having close conversations with decision makers at the parliament, learning mobilities for young Europeans, ways to participate and much more.
On the other hand, I had the chance to get to see where all the decisions take place, in this case the European Parliament but also other important EU institutions such as the European Committee of the Regions. I am glad that I was given the chance to get informed, participate and get to connect with so many new people that shared their valuable opinions and experiences with me and the others.
Participations like this give you valuable knowledge and skills for you to apply them in your future work. Never underestimate the power of knowledge and network. This is just a step towards it.
Many thanks to Alexandra, Angela, Francesc, Frenkli, Javahir, Jona, Maria-Parthena, Mathilde, Meritxell, Olsa, Peter and Selina for wonderfully representing the YRN at LevelUP!, and to the European Youth Forum for selecting a YRN delegation for such a fantastic opportunity!
