On the second week of September, one of the biggest youth events of this year took place. The 2nd Voluntary Convention, organised by European Youth Forum, gathered more than 1500 people.
European Democrat Students has been part of the Convention with the side conference prepared in cooperation with other political youth organisations – members of European Youth Forum.
With the topic „Is volunteering in a party political youth organisation guaranteering the future of European Democracy” we managed to attract many of young people who for the first time took actively part in a workshop about volunteering. Surprised by very controversial questions, young volunteers had a time to reflect about their daily activities and their importance for political youth organisations.
In the panels the speakers Srd Kisevic (Research and Youth Policy Officer, EU-CoE Youth Partnership), Peter Matjasic (President, European Youth Forum) and Giuseppe Porcaro ( Secretary General, European Youth Forum), Ines Elise Prainsack (Political Adviser, EPP), Kaisa Emilia Penny ( President of ECOSY), Maria Dokupilova (Treasurer of FYEG),Philippe De Backer (MEP, ALDE) highlighted the importance of political youth organisations in the activities of European Youth Forum and their high relevance for the Council of Europe. Interesting discussion with young people drove them to conclusion that political youth organisations without volunteers would be not present in framework of EYF.
Sandra Falkowska
EDS is a member association of