An article by Elona Matoshi, Chair of the YRN Committee for Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment
From October 31st to November 3rd, the Canton of Zurich hosted a YRN capacity-building event, bringing together young leaders from across Europe. With Switzerland’s breathtaking lakes and mountains as the backdrop, participants came together to tackle important youth issues and exchange fresh, innovative ideas for driving real change.
As our Vice President Sigrun Myrvang (Innlandet County) put it, “The capacity-building event in Zurich was incredibly engaging. It’s always inspiring to have meaningful discussions on topics that impact young people, both in and outside the meeting rooms.”
A Warm Welcome and Call to Action
The event kicked off with opening remarks from Mario Fehr (Government Councillor, Canton of Zurich), Norbert Nagy (YRN President), and Mirjam de Jong (Project Communications Manager, AER). In his address, President Nagy called for unity, saying: “In a world where everything seems to fall apart, youth must stay united. We must fight for our future, raise our voices, and embrace determination and perseverance for successful participation.” Councillor Fehr agreed with this view and expressed that it was an honour for him to host such passionate people from different European regions.
Panel Discussion: Enhancing Youth Participation
The first day featured a panel discussion on “Enhancing Youth Participation in Democratic Life.” Speakers included: Dr. Céline Colombo (Koordinationsstelle Teilhabe, Canton of Zurich), Gianluca Coccitti (Zurich Youth Parliament), Darleen Pfister (Dachverband Schweizer Jugendparlamente), Tarik Deljković (Youth Delegate for Denmark, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Council of Europe) and Sigrun Myrvang (YRN Vice-President).
The panel discussion delved into youth participation practices across different countries and regions, offering valuable insights. A standout example was the Zurich Youth Parliament, which actively engages youth aged 16–25, including non-Swiss residents, in meaningful discussions and city policymaking. Gianluca Coccitti, representing the Youth Parliament, emphasized its inclusivity: “It’s not just about politics; it’s about giving everyone the chance to lead projects, voice opinions, and work collaboratively with city officials and organizations to shape our community”.
Equally fascinating was Norway’s approach, which mandates youth involvement in public decision-making processes, particularly at the municipal level. The country has even experimented with lowering the voting age to 16 in local elections to enhance youth engagement and evaluate its impact.
The discussion highlighted that different approaches reflect regional priorities while pursuing a common goal: to strengthen the voice of youth and involve them in decision-making processes.
The workshops: peer-learning and exchanging best practices
Throughout the event, the participants attended interactive workshops designed to address diverse challenges.
“Gender Assumptions”, facilitated by Elona Matoshi, YRN Committee Chair for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.
This workshop focused on understanding and challenging gender assumptions. Participants engaged in interactive and enjoyable activities, such as Bingo Card game and empathy mapping, which encouraged group discussions and the sharing of personal experiences related to gender assumptions. To reinforce what they learned, participants wrote down actionable commitments about how they would challenge gender assumptions. These cards were kept as personal reminders of the collective effort to address these issues collaboratively.
“Understanding Emotions and the 5 Ways to Wellbeing”, facilitated by Jack McLaughlin, YRN Committee Chair for Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Jack introduced the “Five Ways to Wellbeing,” blending fun activities with mental health strategies.“The workshop on mental health and wellbeing in Zurich was a complete success.” shared Jack McLaughlin. Participants from across Europe gained valuable insights into understanding emotions and managing them effectively using approaches such as the 5 Ways of Wellbeing and youth work activities. Jack emphasized the importance of continuing this work: “From this workshop, we will further explore ways to support mental health and wellbeing while raising awareness about its significance. It’s essential to prioritize looking after your mental health.”
“Equipping Young People with Knowledge of Climate Change and Sustainability”, facilitated by Marsel Haka, YRN Committee Chair for Green and Sustainable Europe.
Marsel used interactive tools to inspire action, and introduced participants to Menti.com for interactive discussions and shared an inspiring video on green city practices, ending with Nelson Mandela’s quote: “Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is a waste of time. Vision with action can change the world.”
“Current Reality of Youth Participation – Focusing on activist burnout and mental health management”, facilitated by Mathilde Colarte, YRN Committee Chair for Youth Participation and Governance, alongside Moritz Elsner and Gianluca Coccitti, Zurich Youth Parliament.
Besides addressing the pressure faced by youth organizations, this workshop tackled ways to alleviate it, such as making activism playful. In particular, the participants actively discussed the overriding impact that the news can have on youth engagement.
Engaging Communications Training and Creative Feedback
To keep the event dynamic and interactive, participants attended a communications training session led by Mirjam de Jong, Project Communications Manager at the AER. During the session, the groups brainstormed innovative ideas for the AER’s 40th anniversary campaign, including creating a dedicated subsite to showcase four decades of impactful projects and events so that everyone gets a chance to see the impactful work AER has done and continues to do, with the events organized by YRN at the forefront. This was super fun to follow and participate in, seeing so many incredible ideas and different perspectives.
Participants shared valuable feedback on enhancing YRN events and attracting more youth, demonstrating remarkable creativity throughout the feedback session. Their enthusiasm and input made the session both productive and enjoyable. Reflecting on the session, Vice President Kasandra remarked, “It was incredibly rewarding to receive such positive feedback from participants across different regions. It shows how impactful and engaging this event has been for everyone involved.”
Study visits and discovering a city
What makes an in-person event valuable is also the opportunity it creates to connect with a city (here, also a Canton), and to learn on-site about its projects, history and culture. In this regard, the Canton of Zurich included the following activities in the capacity-building programme.
After the workshops, the first day continued with a study visit to the ETH Student Project House, where participants explored hands-on projects by ETH students, sparking inspiration for future collaboration. In their free time, participants enjoyed a visit to the focusTerra museum and had opportunities to get to know each other better or explore Zurich’s many attractions.
On the second day, the event concluded on a festive note with a Medieval City Tour through Zurich, adding a memorable and spooky touch to this enriching experience.
A boost of motivation and inspiration for the YRN
The event was such a great experience for all of us – engaging, productive, and filled with good energy. Even though it was short, we made the most of our time in Zurich. The workshops were insightful, the activities were fun, and there was plenty of room to connect and network with amazing people.
Additionally, the event acted as a strong source of inspiration for the YRN Presidium, encouraging them to continue pursuing important topics, organizing future initiatives, and expanding the network every day. The positive energy these events unleash motivates them to keep moving forward and ensure that the work done today lays the foundation for an even greater impact in the future.
An article by Elona Matoshi, Chair of the YRN Committee for Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment
