Generation d-Liberation is a European project of several civil society organisations contributing to the work of the Conference on future of Europe and promoting the implementation of its recommendations.
It aims at giving tools to school students – in general and VET education – to be able to discuss the future of Europe and the role they want to play in it, with specific regards to the topics they care the most. The project lasts one year, from April 2021 until June 2022.
Our partners are Alliance4Europe, European Alternatives, Citizens Take Over Europe, SV-Bildungswerk e.V. and Unione degli Studenti.
The objectives of the project are to develop and test a methodology for deliberation at school level that can be used by students and schools in order to promote youth engagement and political debates and recommendations and to implement it in 6 countries; to promote youth engagement, school deliberations and the methodology through a communications campaign reaching +500k people on different social media channels; to gather recommendations on the above mentioned topics from those deliberations and present them to MEPs and other policy makers in online and offline spaces;to bring the voices of school students to their political representatives and create a meaningful dialogue among them.
In Hungary we have organised debates in Balatonalmádi, Budapest, Eger, Salgótarján and Székesfehérvár.
Here are some of the ideas/recommendations from our participants:
- I didn’t know that this year is the European Year of Youth. It is a good idea buti t would be great to inform the leaders of our local municipality as well about it. We have brilliant idea show to improve our situation but they should listen to us. (Kriszta, Székesfehérvár)
- I’m 17 years old so this means that I spent all my life living in an EU country. It is important for me that I can freely travel, study abroad and I would like to work in another EU country. I know from my parents how different this was before we joined the EU. I want to keep this situation. (Péter, Salgótarján)
- Global warming is a serious problem influencing already today our daily life. We should de somthing about it. But I’m also afraid that if we consume less, use our cars less or travel less it will endanger our parents’ job possibilities. It will also make youth unemployment higher. The European Union should find a balanced solution to this problem and propose alternative job opportunities for us. (Márkó, Balatonalmádi)
- This is the first time that I have heard about the Conference on the future of Europe. It seems to me an invention of the politicians and very difficult for me to influence the whole thing. Perhaps its result will be concrete enough to join the process. (Imola, Budapest)
- The pandemic made our life completely different. I missed my schoolmates and I feel I lost two complete years of my life. Digital teaching did not work for me. I wish the whole system will be more prepared for the next pandemic-type situation. (Sára, Balatonalmádi)
- My father is Hungarian and my mother is Ukrainian and I was born and live in Eger. I’m very much concerned about the war in Ukraine. How is this possible in the middle of Europe? My family participated in solidarity actions for the refugees and we collected goods in our school. I wish this tragic war will end soon. (Erika, Eger)
- I understand that we should do something about global warming. Last summer was really hot in the city. But I think I am too small to influence global developments. I am ready to reduce heating in our flat but I still would like to buy new fashionable clothes. (Nikolett, Székesfehérvár)
- Today Europe is explained to me too abstractly. Instead we need concrete examples how the EU is influencing our daily life. We need reliable information. (Soma, Budapest)
- The issue of avoiding plastic is one of the most important aspects of how environment has to be protected. I myself convinced my parents not to buy bottled water anymore and by this reducing our plastic waste production. (Csilla, Budapest)
- For me the European Union is the Erasmus programme. I plan to go to university and spend a year in Spain with the Erasmus scholarship. It is a good initiative. This year I started learning Spanish. (Nóra, Eger)
- I was among those who assisted refugees arriving from Ukraine in Budapest. It was good to experience the spirit of solidarity every day. I just wish this spirit would remain with us as part of our everyday life. It is very much needed. (Kata, Budapest)
- My conviction is that our involvement can bring new ideas and creates better mobility in Europe. All this will make positive changes. (Dániel, Salgótarján)
The project is supported by the European Parliament.
