For the second time this year, 30 young people from nine nations shared their visions and thoughts for peace in Europe for a week from 2 to 7 October at the Europaburg Neumarkt and celebrated together with storm and chestnuts.
The European Youth Forum Neumarkt wants to contribute to the development of the European Union and its peace policy. The EYFON team and external speakers worked out solutions and developed messages with the seminar participants. Daniel Kennedy, M.Sc, M.A., founder of “Future Class” and expert on international development, discussed a new European future culture with the young Europeans. In a workshop on “Building bridges for peace”, ideas and concepts for youth organizations were developed and the role and participation of young people in peacekeeping and conflict resolution were discussed in general. Intercultural training and an intercultural evening with the EYFON team, a workshop on Erasmus+ mobility and solidarity programmes with Prof. Dr Dr Thomas Bauer from the Pedagogical University of Vienna and a lecture on war, propaganda and information in times of war with Mag. Dieter Bacher from the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for War Research was also on the agenda.
The diverse leisure activities with “teamgeist” and the EYFON team provided variety and entertainment, which delighted the participants with introductory games, archery and a TabTour through Neumarkt.
The seminar week concluded with the annual chestnut festival in the Burghof, where Special Guest EU Commissioner Dr. Johannes Hahn was able to convince of the team spirit and the community of the young people. He thanked them for the engaged discussion for peace and the future of Europe. Hahn stressed several times: “Democracy is the basis for peace.” His message to the youth of Europe: “Get involved, help, it is your life and your future! – Europe needs you!”
