35 young people from Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, North-Macedonia, Ukraine, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Algeria, Rwanda, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkey recently spent a week at Europaburg in Neumarkt, Styria, where the young Europeans anticipated a diverse program of lectures, workshops, games, and team-building activities. The activities were both entertaining and aimed at fostering mutual understanding.

About the program

Prof. Dr. habil. Olga Tsaryk and Doz. Dr. Nataliia Rybina from West Ukrainian University in Ternopil, Ukraine, led the workshop “Youth Power for Peace: Building a Better Future. Young Leaders, Global Change: Cultivating Peace and Understanding.” It explored how young leaders can promote peace and global change through empathy, cross-cultural communication, and conflict resolution. Interactive discussions encouraged participants to reflect on their potential to inspire positive change and build more inclusive communities.

“My experience at the EYFON PeaceDays program was truly memorable. I had an amazing time, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to meet and connect with such great people. I made some fantastic friends, and the discussions we had were inspiring and insightful. It was a perfect blend of learning, fun, and building lasting relationships.”

Mohcene Mouad Lariane, participant from Algeria

Mag. Dr. Dr. h.c. Thomas Bauer, Head of the International Office at PH Wien, gave a lecture on “Erasmus+ Mobility and Solidarity Programs in Europe.” He highlighted the programs’ role in fostering cross-border cooperation, educational exchange, and social solidarity. Dr. Bauer emphasized that Erasmus+ not only supports academic and professional growth but also personal development through cultural exposure. He explained how mobility programs encourage young people to step out of their comfort zones, building adaptability and intercultural skills. Dr. Thomas Bauer also covered the Solidarity Corps, an EU initiative for youth volunteering, promoting unity and responsibility in addressing societal challenges.

The program concluded with the Intercultural Evening, organized by the EYFON Team, where young Europeans celebrated their diverse cultures. Participants showcased traditional costumes, music, and dances, and shared regional delicacies, creating moments of bonding over food. The event fostered mutual understanding and respect, highlighting the power of cultural exchange to unite people beyond language and borders.

“It was a great pleasure to be a part of this Forum, to feel the power of youth and unity of different nations. I feel very appreciated that my thoughts and opinions were heard by all of the participants, as for me that means that the main purpose of sharing and communicating was reached. It gives me a lot of hope for our peaceful and successful future. And I will miss every minute spent in the castle. The EYFON family will always have a place in my heart. Dankeschön für die beste Erfahrung!”

Vika Mazurenko, West Ukrainian University Student. 

The program’s entertainment segment provided an opportunity for the young participants to engage in diverse activities that fostered teamwork and connection. Through team-based challenges like the TabTour Murau and archery, they built strong, lasting friendships.

With each other – for each other: 30 young people from 15 countries at the EYFON VIG YouthDays at Europaburg Castle

The “EYFON VIG YouthDays” celebrated their fifth anniversary this year: In cooperation with Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein, the European Youth Forum Neumarkt (EYFON) has been organizing and hosting the “EYFON VIG YouthDays” since 2019. Over 180 young people from 20 countries responded to the call and shared their ideas and thoughts on the topic: “With each other – for each other: Acting in solidarity in everyday life”.

“Intercultural exchange among young people has always been a particular concern of ours, and the VIG YouthDays offer the ideal opportunity to engage in cross-border dialog. At the same time, they have the opportunity to get to know the values of our Group, such as solidarity, diversity and understanding for one another, in a fun way”

– says Dr. Peter Thirring, Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board of Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein.

30 young people from 15 countries

A jury selected the 30 most impressive and creative entries and invited the winners to a varied and exciting week at Europaburg in Neumarkt in Styria. Young people from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia were able to convince the jury.

“In my opinion, everyone is lucky to get this opportunity and it is a great opportunity to become more social and independent and to master situations without problems!”

– including Ralf Alliu from Albania.

The participants are between 14 and 17 years old and at least one of their parents works for the VIG Insurance Group. Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein, the main shareholder of Vienna Insurance Group (VIG), is the initiator of VIG YouthDays.

New friendships and cultures

In addition to the workshops and leisure activities, the young people were particularly enthusiastic about making new friends, getting to know other cultures and improving their language skills. Many of them had previously taken part in the “VIG Kids Camp”:

“The EYFON VIG YouthDays are everything I liked so much about the Kids Camp – just taken to a new level”

– summarizes Vlad, one of the participants from Romania.

Europe meets China at Europaburg

25 young students from China, Austria, Albania, Ukraine and Hungary met in Neumarkt in Styria from July 28 to August 2 to explore similarities, differences, values and approaches and to promote a deeper understanding of each other’s culture and politics.

In cooperation with the Confucius Institute Graz, EYFON organized a new format for the first time this year, focusing on the current challenges facing Europe and the world as well as relations between the European Union and China. Intercultural understanding was strengthened and new friendships forged through joint activities, lectures and discussions.

The participants dealt with energy policy, mobility and the circular economy and gained valuable insights into China’s approach to Europe, including its foreign policy goals and ideas. One of the highlights of the program was the Castle Talk on “How to Deal with Making Business in China”, in which Dr. Wan Jie Chen from the Confucius Institute Graz, Karl Hartleb from ICS Styria and Dr. Claudia Weyringer discussed relations between Europe and China. In addition, the participants took part in various activities organized by the Confucius Institute, such as Chinese language lessons, Qigong, calligraphy workshops and a cooking course. With the support of TeamGeist, there was also plenty of sport, games and team-building activities.

“I really enjoyed this program and I think it was a great opportunity to meet people from other European countries and from China. It gave me a special insight into the lives of other people and their culture….“

– said one of the participants from Austria at the end of the week-long event.

25 young people from Ukraine, Albania, Hungary and Georgia recently spent a week at the Europaburg in Neumarkt in Styria. The young Europeans expected a varied program of lectures, workshops, games and team building activities that provided entertainment, but also promoted mutual understanding.

Harald Koch, WIFI course leader for AI, introduced the participants to the dangers and tricks of artificial intelligence and showed how easily the human eye can be deceived by means of practical considerations. The handling of this still young technology therefore requires a lot of care and one’s own gut feeling can be helpful in debunking deep fakes in addition to critical questioning of the disseminated information. Mag. Dieter Bacher from the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for War Research spoke in his lecture about secret services in Austria during the Cold War and beyond, the role of spies and secret services and their ways of obtaining information. Lorenca Bejko, diplomat from Albania, and Aldi Dedja from the Albanian Student Economic Forum discussed the role of communication in peace building. Prof. László Kovács from the KJU Hungary discussed in an interactive lecture with the students how art and enlightenment can serve as a means against fake news. The program was concluded by a workshop with Yuliia Voityshyn and Liliia Krysovata from the University of Ternopil, Western Ukraine, who discussed the importance of intercultural communication for international cooperation.

The leisure program led the young people this time to swim at the Furtner pond, as part of a “TabTour Europe” at various stations in Neumarkt and left them at a medievalChallenge with archery and various activities in the castle courtyard to prove their skill and creativity.

“This experience allowed me to get to know new traditions of European nations better and to experience the diversity of cultures. We had many relevant lectures and activities that allowed us to come together and gather unforgettable moments.” Such events help to sensitize young people to the current problems and the role of communication in solving them,” said Liliia, participant and speaker of the first PeaceDays this year.

Dr. Christoph Leitl, President of the European Youth Forum Neumarkt (EYFON) and the European Movement Austria (EBÖ), presents the Europe Peace Medal to Dr. Günter Geyer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) and a supporter of EYFON from the very beginning.

„I was born in Europe.” With this initial statement, Christoph Leitl, born in the founding year of the Council of Europe, acknowledges his motto for life and the foundation of his private, professional and political life. In addition to the biography of a politician who shaped the contemporary history of Austria and Europe, his new work contains a review of 75 years of the history of the EU, a plea for European values and political commitment and also a vision for the future of Europe in a globalised world.

„Dr. Christoph Leitl always thinked outside the box,” said Stefan Ebner, General Manager Publishing Red Bull Media House, at the ceremony. At the invitation of Benevento-Publishing and with the kind support of the Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein, numerous guests took part – among them European Minister Mag. Karoline Edtstadler and the former Federal President Dr Heinz Fischer – participate in the book presentation in the Ringturm in Vienna.

A welcome occasion to thank a European personality who has supported one of Leitl’s heartfelt affairs – the European Youth Forum Neumarkt (EYFON) – from the beginning. Between the terrible collectivism of China and the boundless individualism of the USA, a creative, social, democratic Europe could be a mediator. Solidarity, peace, humanism – these are the values that Europe and Dr Günter Geyer stand for. This is why he is the first business representative to receive the Europe Peace Medal! “, said Dr. Christoph Leitl at the award ceremony. Günter Geyer, who through his work has made a decisive contribution to the growth of Vienna Insurance Group as a leading insurance group in Central and Eastern Europe, sees the basis for the expansion of VIG Kids Camps for children by employees of VIGGroup societies: “These children live the European thought, despite different language, religion, education, culture – but Europe unites them. The EYFON VIG YouthDays are a continuation and addition to this thought!”, concluded Günter Geyer.

Fresh from the press and also as a download version (in German and English) – our annual report 2023 with all the highlights of the past season.

If you would like to receive a printed copy, please send a short e-mail with your name and postal address to office@eyfon.at.

EYFON organizes various seminars and formats for European young people. As part of the pilot project “VWA – get prepared”, which we are cooperating for the first time this year with several grammar schools in Graz (Akademisches Gymnasium, BG/BRG Kirchengasse, BG/BRG Lichtenfels, Ursulinen) In order to support the students in finding topics and planning their pre-scientific work, we recently visited some EU-relevant institutions in Vienna and met and listened to a number of exciting speakers on selected EU topics.

A tour of the Austrian Mint with Dr. Claus Fischer, who gave the young people insights into coinage and answered their questions about the future of cash, alternative payment methods and cryptocurrencies. Mag. Yasmin Soetopo gave the students an overview of the institutional development of the EU during a lecture in the premises of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. The next day, a visit to the Austrian National Bank and exciting discussions with Dkfm and DiplVW Klaus Prömpers and Philipp Leindl from the Team Europe – Spokesperson Service of the European Commission were on the agenda. In addition to current EU issues, the conference focused on asylum policy, the Schengen system and human rights in the EU. Dr. Thomas Steiner gave the young people insights into the work areas of the Austrian National Bank and was available to answer questions on various topics such as the digital euro, interest rate policy and cash. The event concluded with a tour of the Money Museum, where the group learned more about the history of cash, coins and means of payment in general.

This project will be continued with an event in Graz in spring 2024 and a seminar at our Europaburg in autumn 2024. Here, newcomers from participating schools are also invited and we plan to continue this format in the coming years. The discussion and dialogue with young people is a central concern of our events and we are convinced to make a valuable and constant contribution to the European consciousness.

EYFON would like to thank the Münze Österreich and the OeNB for their friendly welcome. Many thanks also to all speakers for the exciting insights and the participating students and teachers for their commitment and interest in the discussions and lectures.