The first prize of €7,500 in the European Charlemagne Youth Prize competition went to AILEM from Belgium – the first ever language app tailored for refugees and asylum seekers and developed in consultation with them.
AILEM uses language to break down intercultural misunderstandings and gaps between refugees and their host country and includes useful phrases, language learning stories and games, as well as ways to connect to other users. The project aims to bring together people from different backgrounds, experiences and social status.
The European Charlemagne Youth Prize is an award run jointly by the European Parliament and the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen that highlights projects by young people to strengthen democracy and support active participation. Every year national and European juries select 27 national projects from every member state, and 3 European laureates who are invited to the award ceremony in Aachen.
This year, two projects took joint second place: „Mobile Climate Museum” from Lithuania and „The European Correspondent” from The Netherlands. They will both receive €3,750 each.
The Mobile Climate Museum was set up in 2022 with the aim of getting people to adopt a climate-friendly lifestyle. It consists of four mobile marine containers representing four themes:
- Climate change – causes and impact
- The EU green deal
- Sustainable farming and healthy food
- Practical tips on cutting consumption
The European Correspondent, also founded in 2022, brings together over 140 young journalists from across Europe with the aim of creating European journalism. They email a daily newsletter, covering a different region each day, with the most relevant European news. They also investigate how big issues play out in different European countries.
More information and the list of all national winners
