The world of bees, the future of young people in Europe and the topic of sustainability were the focal points of the second edition of “EYFON meets FRIDA” from 22 to 26 May in cooperation with Fridagymnasiet Mölnlycke (Sweden), Gymnasium Anton Martin Slomšek (Maribor/Slovenia) and BG/BRG Lichtenfels (Graz). The 16 pupils and 6 teachers were able to get to know the topics of bees, sustainability and Europe from different perspectives during a varied programme in the Europaburg in Neumarkt, the Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen region, in Bad Blumau and in Vienna.
First on the programme was a visit to the Natural History Museum in Neumarkt, where, in addition to the show beehive and interesting information about the life of bees in the hive, the participants also enthusiastically explored the other areas of the museum. The pupils were then able to take a look behind the scenes at the Maier family’s organic beekeeping business in Mühlen, where they were able to spin honey themselves and taste it. The highlight of the week was a guided tour of the “Frutura Glass House” in Bad Blumau, where the participants were given an insight into sustainable vegetable cultivation, the role of bees and bumblebees in pollinating plants and the apple and bee project. Claudia Weyringer from the EYFON team organised a workshop on the topic of “My future in Europe”, in which questions such as “What makes you feel European?”, “Europe without the EU” and “Europe in the year 3000” were discussed in working groups. During a visit to the “Johann hydrogen plant” in Murau, the pupils also learnt about examples of sustainability in the region. In addition to the specialist programme, there was also plenty of fun – as well as the high ropes course in Oberwölz, “teamgeist” inspired the young people with speed dating, archery in the castle courtyard and a tabtour through Neumarkt, where they had to solve questions and tasks relating to bees and Europe.
The eventful week ended with an invitation to the Swedish Embassy in Vienna, where the young people discussed the current Swedish Presidency, the work of the Swedish Embassy, differences in the education systems of Austria and Sweden and current European issues with Ms Helena Zimmerdahl and Mr Mårten Frankby, Counsellor at the Embassy, EYFON President Christoph Leitl and Managing Director Christian Buchmann.
