In May, 120 young people from 32 countries met at the Youth Island outside Copenhagen for the event, Young Europe is Voting 2024 ahead of the European Parliament elections that took place in June. The elections have now concluded, we have had time to analyse the results, and reflect on the work that stands ahead of us with the new development of the European Parliament. The far right gained momentum in this election, but if the dedication, involvement and willingness to act at the event Young Europe is Voting-event is anything to go by, the European youth is exactly that: dedicated, involved and willing to act in order to see change across the continent. According to one EP-candidate the event presented politicians with “the most relevant and moving pieces of political activism in the run-up to the elections.”
Imagine this: 120 young people from 32 countries are gathered on an abandoned fortress, called the Youth Island, off the coast of Copenhagen for four days. During their stay they are introduced to a wide range of political topics and viewpoints through debates, workshops and social activities, that makes the fortress turn into a melting pot of discussions, singing, performance and new friendships.
The islanders are a mix of Danish Folk High School students and participants from other parts of Europe. They find common ground in their interest in EU politics and how the EU governs the challenges that the world is facing at present, and in the future, such as climate change, unemployment, inequality and the refugee crisis.
Ahead of their island summit, the participants have spent three days on one out of six Folk High Schools, where they joined short courses on EU-related topics like EU in the world, democracy and fundamental rights.
The result? An enlightened, committed, strong and hopeful community of young people, stretching across the borders of EU, that are set on making the politicians of the European Parliament listen.
This was, in short, what happened at the event Young Europe is Voting, which took place in May 2024. Young Europe, who is behind the summit, is a project that commits to building a diverse network that inspires individuals of all backgrounds – across nationalities, races, ethnicity, religions, economic backgrounds, sexual orientations, languages, ages, genders and prior experiences – to bring their full selves to the work of creating a more progressive, democratic and sustainable Europe. Young Europe is Voting 2024 was a contribution to the democratic engagement of young people ahead of the European Parliament Elections.
Workshops for heads, hands and hearts
At the Youth Island the participants were encouraged to make their voices heard, and to channel their message through language, voices, bodies, and senses. They got the opportunity to express their opinions creatively through one out of five workshops: poetry, speech, movement, art, or advocacy. The purpose was for them to experience a creative flow, and the notion that collaborating with others can be powerful, activistic and meaningful. To create inspiring and challenging workshops, the team behind Young Europe invited a range of professional artists, performers and political activists to teach each workshop.
On the third day of the summit, a group of Danish candidates for the European Parliament arrived at the Youth Island by boat. During an island walk, the politicians were presented with the various outcomes of the workshops: artwork, poetry, speeches, a manifest and a play based on the political ideas and wishes of the participants.
Poems that told stories of hate speech and paintings depicting refugees struggling to get access to the promised land of the EU, showed how personal issues is inevitably linked with politics. The presentations were called “the most relevant and moving pieces of political activism in the runup to the elections,” by Lars Fogh Mortensen from Radikale Venstre, who believed that the Young Europe participants showed an unusually strong commitment to change and action.
The energy, motivation and energy from everyone involved with Young Europe is Voting has lifted our energy, and we are very hopeful for the future and ready to keep tackling the challenges ahead.
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