Can young people be at the forefront of revitalising our cities during and after the COVID-19 crisis?
Let’s see how this crisis impacted youth participation in the cities of Europe, and how cities and their young people can adapt to a more digitized environment, what the future looks like and what can be done for developing and improving urban youth ecosystems.
Join the Happy City Conference in our live public event, remotely, even from your home! Find out more about how European Youth Capital cities did during the COVID-19 pandemic, how the youngsters in these cities felt both before and during the pandemic or how they assess their city’s safety, unity, or proactivity levels.
The programme and registrations to the conference:
On 17th Oct 2020 Baltic Sea Youth representatives gathered for the whole afternoon for the virtual Baltic Sea Youth Camp 2.0. Their goal was to get together to contribute meaningfully to the future of the Baltic Sea Region. This was set out in the Baltic Sea Youth Declaration, put together by the young participants at the camp.
The Declaration was presented to the Baltic Sea Region policy and decision-makers at the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) Annual Forum on 20th Oct 2020, to be taken into account by each of the Policy Areas of the EUSBSR. Read the full document below.
On 3.10 we invited youngsters from Gdansk and Elbląg, including youth from the Euroregion Baltic Youth Board, to participate in the Baltic Sea Youth Platform #BSYP event raising awareness on STEM among youth.
The EUSBSR Annual Forum should have taken place in Turku, Finland in June 2020. Due to the COVID-situation it was rescheduled for October and during summer 2020 it was decided to cancel the physical event and instead go online. As the BSYP partnership planned to organise a physical youth event back-to-back to the Forum this idea now must be transformed to fit into the virtual context of the whole event. The Baltic Sea Youth Camp that took place in June 2020 was the first kick-off to these activities. The EUSBSR Annual Forum will take place virtually in form of a bigger panel event on 20.10.2020 and workshops were organised online alongside by the PACs and HACs, as well as external partners during September and October. The young people in the region expressed their wish to return to physical events. Therefore, smaller events were organised by local partners in the region. Our ERB event in Elbląg was one of them! See a few pictures from the event too!
What: Baltic Sea Youth Camp virtual 2.0
For whom: young people (16 – 30 years old) from the Baltic Sea Region
Why: Because we want to make the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region much more youthful and state our opinion on it.
Please follow the link and get your ticket for the event before the event. Registrations is open until the start of the event!
A detailed schedule of the event can be seen on the event registration page.————————————————————
Are you interested in politics? Would you like to get more information on EU policies and what they actually do for you? We want to make young voices be heard all over the Baltic Sea Region and beyond. Share your thoughts and become a part of the Baltic Sea Youth Platform. Together with you, we want to prepare a youth input to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. We have organised several smaller local events before we will now meet all together online. If you did not get the chance to take part in the local events, do not worry, there will be an info session for everyone to get on the same page. We will also provide the possibility to informally meet decisionmakers in the region and familiarise yourself with the structures of political engagement in the Baltic Sea Region. The event functions as a youth event before the Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and will enable you to follow the big event on 20.10. Together we will write a declaration to the actors within the Strategy from EU to the local level. This event is the ideal starting point or continuation of your political career within the Baltic Sea Region. Join us and see what the Baltic Sea Region has to offer! We welcome participants from ALL countries of the Baltic Sea Region (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia & Sweden) and everyone interested in exploring our region.
Do you want to know how the EU promotes macro-regions? See a great example of the EU cohesion policy? Then check out what the EU macro-regional strategies are all about and why they are influencing your life as well and bring us together as one Baltic Sea Region. Join us at 17.10. from 14 – 17 o’clock to discuss what is important for young people in our region and influence EU policies directly: https://www.facebook.com/events/329616354995029
You will also get the chance to informally chat with the Director General of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. The Council represents 11 Member States and the EU. You want to know more about the Council and its work? And what the EUSBSR has to do with it? Ask your questions! Some information can already be found on the CBSS website: https://cbss.org/
POWER BOX Toolkits and Guidelines RESEARCH Reports and dataCULTURE AND CITIES Cultural initiatives in our local communitiesCOMMUNICATION Media, design and social mediaIT Tool development and update
FAQ
FOR WHOM?
Everyone is welcome, there are no special qualifications needed. You just have to be enthusiastic to work with others in our region. Do not worry about your level of English, this is a great way to improve your own skills.
HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE?
This is up to you and your schedule. As we are all volunteers, there is no pressure. Yet, you should bring a bit of time for our bi-weekly meetings and to work in between. Please be honest about the time you have and do not take over responsibilities you cannot fullfil.
IS THERE ANY SUPPORT AND MENTORSHIP?
Absolutely. We won’t leave you alone. Even though the groups will be youth-led, there is always support available. Our region has a lot of mentors who are eager to help and support you whenever necessary. Our Project Assistant, will be present at the meetings and coordinate the work of the groups.
You can count on the support of all project partners, especially the Council of the Baltic Sea States.
WHY SHOULD I JOIN?
This is a great opportunity to enhance your own skills in teamwork, international cooperation, English language and in the topic you will be working in.
You can learn a lot and share your experiences with others, while working for a much bigger purpose: real youth-participation in the region. You will be the one driving the change, engaged in all our activities and getting all latest information before anyone else.
You have the chance to work with mentors and experts in various field and you can build a network that will help you throughout your life.
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE WORKING GROUPS?
The aim of the Baltic Sea Youth Platform is to become obsolete at some point. We will work to enhance youth cooperation in various spheres and throughout all levels of decision-making in the Baltic Sea Region.
IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION?
Yes, we will close the application on 28.06.2020 at 23:59 CET. But do not worry if you missed it, we will have an open-call every 6 months to recruit new baltfluencer for our talent pool.
The #BalticSeaYouthCamp#bsyc 2020 was a great success! It was a fantastic opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, have fun and celebrate the Youth! Get inspired by Baltic involvement of Julia Orluk and Martin Ruemmelein and find your own way to contribute to the #EUSBSR.
Read the article prepared by Marta Czarnecka-Gallas, representing the Let’s Communicate Interreg BSR project promoting the EUSBSR.
Youth initiatives contributing to the common goals of the EU Strategy of the Baltic Sea Region.
June 12th, 2020
by Marta Czarnecka-Gallas, Let’s Communicate!
I met Julia and Martin for the first time almost two years ago. It was in September, at an Annual Conference of Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (BSSSC) in Gdańsk. For her, it was just the onset of an adventure into the Baltic Affairs. For him, it was a big step forward. At that time Martin was in the middle of his cadency at BSSSC Board as a Baltic Sea Region Youth representative and he had already earned his reputation as an engaged and visionary lad with lots of ideas on the youth empowerment in the Baltic Sea Region.
After these almost two years and some personal and online encounters, I talk with Julia and Martin again. It is a very specific time. The Spring is at the full thrust but many in the Baltic Sea Region, Europe and the world still cannot indulge in the simple joys it usually brings. The lockdowns our societies have experienced, the social distancing on a mass scale and numerous limitations to daily life and work have changed our perception of things. It is just before the online Baltic Sea Youth Camp, the initiative which aims to use the power, vision and ideas of the young generations to contribute to a more sustainable EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).
So how Martin and Julia are doing today? And what has changed in these two years in the youth empowerment and inclusion in the EUSBSR?
Full of energy, full of passion
‘On a perfect day, I will wake up before my alarm rings at about 6:00, go for a small run, get ready for work, check some social media on the bus and learn some Chinese’- starts Martin. Now a 25-year-old-student of International Economics and Business Relationships at the University of Southern Denmark. ‘In the office, I really enjoy days on which I meet many of my great colleagues, get to work on challenging tasks and have time to move a meeting to the cafe. After work, I like to go for a longer run, meet up with friends, and cook fresh. I have many hobbies, the first of which is to get politically engaged, but I also go running, love to take photos and be part of the Young European Federalists’. Being active within many different fields is also a feature of Julia. Just like her broad and constant smile, which opens many doors, she knocks at with her ideas. Julia, who is currently a first-year student of International Economic Relations at Gdańsk University and the President of Euroregion Baltic Youth Board, is also a great fan of baking (she brings to our meeting homemade carrot muffins in a quantity that could feed a small army unit) and extreme sports.
When you see the passion Julia and Martin speak about the things, which are important for them and hear how they try to change the world around them, it seems clear that having Youth onboard EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is the key to make it work. ‘The Baltic Sea Affairs include many important issues that will decide, on how we will live in the region in the future- says Martin. ’For example, when discussing sustainability, responsible consumption and production, we can try to avoid polluting the Baltic Sea with too much plastic that will make it impossible to eat fish from the Baltic Sea in the future due to microplastic. Also, we can take action against climate change to do our fair share to ensure that our children can show their grandchildren the beautiful cities along the Baltic coast how I can experience them without extreme weather situations and food insecurities. To young people, this is all much more relevant as they will ask themselves, „in what kind of world do I want to have my future children living in one day?”. The outcome of this question is essential and needs to be taken into account when discussing Baltic Sea topics’. Julia agrees with that completely and confirms that ecology and economy are important issues for the young generations. ‘I come from Gdańsk and I am very proud of my city because of its long and inspiring history. I also observe how much Gdansk has benefitted from international cooperation, exchange of experiences and knowledge transfer. This proves that the whole Baltic Sea Region will be better off while acting together’. While being active in the Baltic Affairs, Julia got more sensitive to environmental issues and is a great advocate of sustainable development goals. She would explain to her grandmum why resigning from meat can contribute to a cleaner planet and with an unhidden satisfaction observes some changes in her diet in this respect. She helps her neighbours to understand the philosophy behind garbage segregation and inspire her parents to ask in a restaurant whether the potatoes on their plates come from a local farm. ‘For me, the realization of the SDGs simply means becoming a better person’, she concludes.
Youth involvement in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
There is much scope for Youth involvement in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. ‘I firmly believe that the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region can empower Youth to be more active’, claims Martin. ’However, this will not just happen on its own. We need to implement structures, where the Youth governs. The Baltic Sea Youth Camp, the Baltic Sea Youth Platform and the Baltic Sea Youth Declaration are a good start. Now we need to ensure that they get a fixed role in the EUSBSR, and take care that it is the Youth that governs in these initiatives.’ Julia underlines that the Youth cannot be only a nice adding to the picture. ‘We don’t want to be invited to the discussion because it’s cool to have a hashtag #Youth or similar while twitting from a conference. At one event I participated, young people were asked to present their statement but it even wasn’t brought up by the moderator. No one reacted to what we said. We felt completely ignored and this is very demotivating’. Such practices certainly won’t earn youth engagement. ‘In debates, we need to understand that young people are not better scientists but should be able to advocate their values and ideas and point of view to the discussion’, Martin adds and continues: ‘In my opinion, we do not need a culture in the EUSBSR were everyone nods and agrees to everything that the Youth proposes, and forgets about it a minute later. We need a culture where proposals of the Youth are critically discussed on the same eye-level. For this, we need a fixed role of the Youth in the EUSBSR. There are many ways that this is possible.’
The institutional culture of the Baltic Sea Region favours active citizenship. Numerous organizations from very local to transnational allow for youth involvement in various projects. The first step into being young activists on an international scale for both Julia and Martin was taken during their school years. That is why they strongly support initiatives like the Baltic Sea Youth Camp or Baltic Sea Youth Platform, dedicated to young people in their secondary and tertial education. ‘When we drafted the concept for this in Gdansk last year, we stated clearly, that it needs to be governed by the Youth, and that it should not be a one time project’, Martin explains. ‘If the Youth is not enabled to drive the platform further and ensure continuous funding, then we will not see the Youth making a significant impact. I think we can understand the youth platform as a constantly sailing boat. Now we have the sailboat. We need to set the sails, sail to the right harbours to pick up support for continued funding beyond the Erasmus project and give the command to the Youth which can choose which direction to sail and what goods to take along, which are represented by the Contents of the Baltic Sea youth declaration’.
Taking the stage at the 10th Annual Forum of EUSBSR in Gdańsk with their Declaration elaborated at the first Baltic Youth Camp, the young people in the Baltic Sea Region showed that they are engaged and they want to be involved. The Baltic Sea Youth Platform is as a step further and has probably the highest chance to make an impact in the future on the young people empowerment in the Region, being an umbrella for various initiatives (like the Baltic Sea Youth Camp and Baltic Sea Youth Declaration). So let’s keep the fingers crossed for more youth-inspired and youth-led projects and remember that the Youth will only have a voice when it is active.
For more information please check:
EUSBSR– European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the first Macro-regional Strategy in Europe approved by the European Council in 2009. It is divided into three objectives, which represent the three key challenges of the Strategy: saving the sea, connecting the region and increasing prosperity. Each objective relates to a wide range of policies and has an impact on the other objectives https://www.balticsea-region-strategy.eu/
Julia Orluk: a first-year student of International Economic Relations at Gdańsk University. Chairwoman of the Euroregion Baltic Youth Board. Member of the Young Diplomats Forum. Youth representative of Pomorskie Region. Passionate about her home city of Gdańsk, baking and a Lhasa Apso dog, called Taker. Addicted to extreme sports. Photo: Julia’s Album
Martin Ruemmelein: currently studying International Economics and Business Relationships at the University of Southern Demark in Sønderborg and writing a thesis about IoT business models in collaboration with Danfoss Drives. Apart from his passion for politics, he is interested in business and digitalization. Former chairmen of the state students board of vocational schools and former board member of the Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation. Loves jogging, taking photos and cooking with friends. Photo by Paula Graetke
Want to know more about the BSSSC Sporing Youth Event supported by the Euroregion Baltic and Union of the Baltic Cities?
In these difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic, which has already changed our lives and mindsets, we believe that maintaining communication is even more important than before. We, in the Baltic Sea Region, want to speak across generations on the most important issues. On our fears and ambitions, on the problems we face and the solutions that can be undertaken.
Therefore, on behalf of the Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Cooperation, Mieczyslaw Struk – Pomorskie Region Marshal and the BSSSC Chairman, together with the Union of the Baltic Cities, Euroregion Baltic, Pomorskie youth and climate activists invite you to the very first online BSSSC Spring Youth Event to take place on June 2nd-5th 2020.
We already know that the Corona crisis is with us for longer and influences a lot of aspects of our lives. It affects, among others, the ambitions we have had to make our planet clean and safe, and the society caring and prosperous. So we want to discuss what will be the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on:
the climate crisis;
digital world;
education;
modern democracy.
There are lots of challenges around us, which we can try to face together! We believe that we all need to think about how to critically react to information flow selecting facts from fakes and getting to know the whole picture. And how every one of us can contribute to a better life.
Working together and across the Baltic Sea, we can be more effective. Our voice will be much stronger, so decision-makers will have to listen. It will be important to take your voice to the EUSBSR AF in Turku, the Conference on the Future of Europe launched by the European Commission and other fora dealing with the state of our Earth and condition of our lives. Acting in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals we have to find solutions.
Let’s do this together!
Programme
Date: 2nd – 5th of June 2020
Online sessions on ZOOM
Please join ZOOM via link before 15:00 PM
June 2nd, 15:00 -18:00 CET
Welcome and opening of the BSSSC Spring Youth Event 2020 meeting – Mr. Mieczysław Struk, BSSSC Chairman
General introduction to the idea of the BSSSC Spring Youth Event 2020 meeting
Expert debate/Introduction to the thematic area Green Deal to Fight Climate Crisis in Corona Times
Mr Kamil Wyszkowski – Global Compact Network Poland
Ms Katarzyna Bałucka – Dębska – European Commission
Mr Marcin Gerwin – University of Gdańsk, Sopot Development Initiative
Ms Marta Wróblewska – Youth Climate Strike (Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia local group)
Discussion
Summary of day 1
June 3rd, 15:00 -17:00 CET
Expert debate/ Introduction to the thematic area Digital World in Post – Corona Times
Ms Aleksandra Przegalińska – Skierkowska – Koźmiński University
Mr Timo Väliharju – The Finnish Centre for Open Systems and Solutions
Mr Krzysztof Stachura – University of Gdańsk, The Foundation Center for Social Research and Analysis
Mr Darius Šoparas – Creative Partner
Mr Martin Rümmelein – former BSSSC Board Member
Discussion
Summary of day 2
June 4th, 15:00 – 17:00 CET
Expert debate /Introduction to the thematic area Education for the New World
Ms Małgorzata Bukowska – Ulatowska – Teachers Education Centre in Gdańsk
Mr Timo Väliharju – The Finnish Centre for Open Systems and Solutions
Ms Indre Razbadauskaite – Venske – Globalkey.lt and Nepaleisk svajones
Mr Przemysław Staroń – psychologist, cultural expert and teacher
Discussion
Summary of day 3
June 5th, 15:00 – 18:00 CET
Expert debate/ Introduction to the thematic area Democracy in the Post – Corona World
Mr Marius Ulozas – Institute for Policy Research and Analysis
Mr Wietse Van Ransbeeck – CitizenLab
Mr Dominik Ringler – Children and Youth Participation in Brandenburg
Ms Ewelina Górecka – the Polish Robert Schuman Foundation
Ms Daniela Vanić – Democracy International
Discussion
Introduction of the BSYP project
Ms Kaarina Williams – Council of the Baltic Sea States
Ms Aline Mayr – Council of Baltic the Sea States
Presentation of the results to the politicians/decision – makers, debate and summing up
Make sure you send us the motivation letter (not too long! max 1 page A4 format:-)) – tell us what drives your activities in the BSR. Add graphics, a collage, a film, or a photo if you wish – be creative!
Follow the instructions in the registration form. If you need more information, contact the BSSSC Secretariat:
WHAT: Baltic Sea Youth Camp – online edition WHEN: 12.-13.06.2020 WHERE: online, wherever you are WHY: Nothing can stop us! We are educating on, discussing about and developing new input for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. FOR WHOM: Young people between 18-25 years in / from / connected to the Baltic Sea Region MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION: https://www.balticyouthcamp.org/
The 2020 Online edition of the Baltic Sea Youth Camp is a two-day online event where youth representing the Baltic Sea Region meet online to explore friendship and politics through workshops, small seminars and social activities. We welcome you to the 2nd Baltic Sea Youth Camp gathering which this time is online, due to the current situation with COVID-19. Join us and explore cultural identity and friendships in the Baltic Sea Region. Raise your voice and learn how to influence politics, share your viewpoints on cultural and political topics, meet politicians, join in interesting workshops.
In these difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic, which has already changed our lives and mindsets, we believe that maintaining communication is even more important than before. We, in the Baltic Sea Region, want to speak across generations on the most important issues. On our fears and ambitions, on the problems we face and the solutions that can be undertaken.
Therefore, on behalf of the Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Cooperation, Mieczyslaw Struk – Pomorskie Region Marshal and the BSSSC Chairman, together with the Union of the Baltic Cities, Euroregion Baltic, Pomorskie youth and climate activists invite you to the very first online BSSSC Spring Youth Event to take place on June 2nd-5th 2020.
We already know that the Corona crisis is with us for longer and influences a lot of aspects of our lives. It affects, among others, the ambitions we have had to make our planet clean and safe, and the society caring and prosperous. So we want to discuss what will be the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on:
the climate crisis;
digital world;
education;
modern democracy.
There are lots of challenges around us, which we can try to face together! We believe that we all need to think about how to critically react to information flow selecting facts from fakes and getting to know the whole picture. And how every one of us can contribute to a better life.
Working together and across the Baltic Sea, we can be more effective. Our voice will be much stronger, so decision-makers will have to listen. It will be important to take your voice to the EUSBSR AF in Turku, the Conference on the Future of Europe launched by the European Commission and other fora dealing with the state of our Earth and condition of our lives. Acting in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals we have to find solutions.
Make sure you send us the motivation letter (not too long! max 1 page A4 format:-)) – tell us what drives your activities in the BSR. Add graphics, a collage, a film, or a photo if you wish – be creative!
Follow the instructions in the registration form. If you need more information, contact the BSSSC Secretariat:
