EYP at the European Youth Event 2025 in Strasbourg

9,000 young people aged 16 to 30 came together in Strasbourg for the European Youth Event (EYE) 2025 to discuss the future of Europe.
EYP was part of the crowd, represented by the Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors Programme and the organising team of the upcoming International Session in Turku, together with EYP Finland.
We hosted a variety of activities for the EYE participants, introducing those who were unfamiliar with the EYP to our work, inspiring many to join their National Committees and get involved.

Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors at EYE: Driving Dialogue on Ukraine’s Future

With the support of the Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors, we held interactive workshops that explored five areas essential for Ukraine’s sustainable reconstruction, as outlined in the Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors’ vision paper published this year – “A Sustainable Tomorrow: Youth Visions for Rebuilding Ukraine”.

The topics covered were Urbanisation, Cultural Heritage, Cybersecurity, Education, and Energy Security.

• For the Urbanisation scenario, participants examined how citizens could engage in the rebuilding process, focusing on balancing funding for memorials with essential infrastructure like mental health support centres for both returning soldiers and local residents.
• The Cultural Heritage groups focused on how technology, such as digital archiving and 3D scanning, can preserve Ukraine’s cultural treasures and ensure the continued global visibility of Ukrainian culture, despite the challenges posed by war.
• The Cybersecurity scenario focussed on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ukraine and how they can better protect themselves from cyber threats, with an emphasis on international cooperation to strengthen the country’s digital resilience.
• In the Education groups, participants tackled the challenges of maintaining learning in conflict zones, addressing issues like teacher shortages, online education, and student relocation to ensure that education continues despite infrastructure instability.
• Finally, the Energy Security scenario explored sustainable energy solutions, like solar panels and wind turbines, to reduce Ukraine’s reliance on fossil fuels and ensure reliable energy for residents, even during power shortages.

In our panel discussions, we were joined by four Members of the European Parliament, alongside our Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors, who shared insights on Ukraine’s reconstruction, EU support, youth involvement, and long-term European integration. They answered questions such as:

• How can the EU support youth-led initiatives like the Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors for long-term impact on Ukraine’s recovery?
• What can both Ukrainian institutions and the EU do to empower youth and prepare the next generation to rebuild and govern Ukraine?

We are very grateful to MEPs Aurelijus Veryga, Ondřej Kolář, Lukas Sieper, and Thomas Waitz for taking the time to engage with youth voices!

We also participated in the Advocacy Corner within the Hemicycle Hub, presenting the work of EYP and discussing how young people can actively contribute to shaping Europe’s future.

We want to thank the Ambassadors for their great facilitation at the EYE, and Kateryna Korpalo, the head organiser behind the Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors’ activities at the event.

EYP Finland at EYE: Shaping Impactful Youth Projects for Tomorrow

The Organising Team for Turku’s 2025 International Session, in collaboration with EYP Finland, hosted two workshops at the EYE, under the title “Out of the Box: Creating Impactful Projects“. Drawing from their experience as organisers of one of EYP’s flagship events and as members of a youth-led NGO actively leading initiatives in Finland, our volunteers guided participants through the process of turning social concerns into meaningful action. 

In small groups, participants identified pressing societal issues and developed concrete strategies to address them within the scope of their work. They explored how to shape raw ideas into tangible initiatives, and by the end of the workshops, attendees had designed concepts for real-world campaigns and events, including an app to boost youth voter engagement, digital detox retreats for young people, and a rural summer school aimed at equipping youth with essential life and civic skills. 

The EYP Finland and Turku International Session Event facilitators also had the chance to network with decision-makers and other NGOs from across Europe.

Now, EYP Finland is just one week away from hosting their own International Session in Turku, where all the hard work of the past months will come to life.  
The Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors workshop format we developed for the EYE will have a comeback at the International Session in Turku to ensure the Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors programme benefits from as many EYPers’ ideas and contributions as possible.

To find out more about the Rebuild Ukraine Programme, visit our project page and stay tuned for the announcement of the new cohort of Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors for 2025.
And to find out more about the Turku IS, head to the International Sessions project page or visit EYP Finland’s Instagram for live coverage of the event, including daily stories and other content.