Youth of European Nationalities YEN / JEV

17/06/2026

🇩🇪 Connecting Voices 2026 🌍

Während unseres letzten Seminars haben wir Erfahrungen geteilt, über die unterschiedlichen Lebensrealitäten gesprochen und uns mit Diskriminierung, Vorurteilen und strukturellem Antiziganismus beschäftigt.

Wir haben erforscht wie wir Storytelling als Werkzeug nutzen können um unsere eigene Identität, Zugehörigkeit und Kultur zu teilen aber auch um uns selbst besser kennenzulernen.

Ein großes Dankeschön an alle, die dabei waren, sich eingebracht, zugehört, Fragen gestellt, getanzt und dieses Seminar mitgestaltet haben.

Ihr wollt weiter dabei bleiben? Verfolgt unsere kommenden Open Calls, teilt eure Ideen mit eurer Organisation und haltet Ausschau nach unseren nächsten Veranstaltungen.

🇬🇧 Connecting Voices 2026 🌍

Throughout the week of our last seminar, we shared experiences, discussed the realities of minority youth in Europe and confronted discrimination, prejudice and structural antigypsyism.

We explored how we can use Storytelling as a tool to not only share our identity, belonging and culture but also to get to know ourselves better.

A big thank you to everyone who joined, contributed, listened, questioned, danced and co-created this seminar with us.

Want to stay involved? Follow our upcoming calls, share your ideas with your organisation and keep an eye on our next opportunities.

MinorityRights YouthOfEuropeanNationalities

03/06/2026

Whether Roma, Sorbs, Frisians, Ladins, Pomaks or Meskhetian Turks – they all belong to minorities without a kin-state to support them. From 2 to 5 July 2026, their representatives will meet in Ljouwert/Leeuwarden in Fryslân/Friesland (Netherlands) for the 10th annual meeting of the FUEN Non-Kin-State Working Group (NKS). This year’s focus: How can minority languages gain more visibility in the digital sphere?

All details about the meeting can be found on our website.
👉 Link in the comments.

***

Ob Roma, Sorben, Friesen, Ladiner, Pomaken oder Turk-Mescheten – sie alle gehören Minderheiten an, die keinen eigenen Staat hinter sich haben. Vom 2. bis 5. Juli 2026 treffen sich ihre Vertreterinnen und Vertreter in Ljouwert/Leeuwarden in Fryslân/Friesland (Niederlande) zur 10. Jahrestagung der FUEN-Arbeitsgemeinschaft Non-Kin-State (NKS). Im Fokus der Diskussionen steht diesmal die Frage: Wie können Minderheitensprachen im digitalen Raum sichtbarer werden?

Alle Details zu der Tagung gibt es auf unserer Webseite.
👉 Link im Kommentar.

10/05/2026

🇬🇧YFJ General Assembly!🌟

Our President Johanna and Vice President for External Relations Wencke spent the last few days in the in Tromsø, Norway, the European Youth Capital 2026, to participate in the General Assembly of the European Youth Forum 🇳🇴🗳️

Three days filled with great conversations, constructive discussions, and many elections are behind us. And of course, lots of fun and fantastic teamwork within our Bloc the Exchange Group. 🫶🏻

Congratulations to all the newly elected members! We wish the new board every success in their work and look forward to a great collaboration! 🎉🤩

🇩🇪YFJ Generalversammlung!🌟

Unsere Präsidentin Johanna und Vize Präsidentin für Externes Wencke, haben die letzen Tage im in der europäischen Jugendhauptstadt 2026, Tromsø, Norwegen verbracht, um an der Generalversammlung des Europäischen Jugendforums teilzunehmen. 🇳🇴🗳️

Drei Tage mit guten Gesprächen, konstruktiven Diskussionen und vielen Wahlen liegen hinter uns. Und natürlich auch mit viel Spaß und einer super Zusammenarbeit innerhalb unserer Gruppe, der Exchange Group.🫶🏻

Herzlichen Glückwunsch an alle neu gewählten! Wir wünschen dem neuen Vorstand viel Erfolg bei der Arbeit und freuen uns auf eine gute Zusammenarbeit!🎉🤩

07/05/2026

Are you ready to dive deep into the world of European minorities? We invite you to the 16th Annual Summer School on National Minorities!

📍 Where? Flensburg, Germany 📅
When? 23–28 August 2026

🔍 Theme: “Europe’s Non-Kin-State Minorities: Profiles and Realities”

What to expect?

This intensive week offers a platform to examine the challenges faced by minorities who lack an external kin-state (NKSM)—such as Catalans, Sorbs, Sinti and Roma, or North Frisians.

✨ Program Highlights:

Expert Insight: Lectures and interactive workshops with renowned scholars

Real-World Perspective: Exclusive networking with local stakeholders and practitioners.

Immersive Experience: A field visit to the island of Föhr to experience the North Frisian community firsthand.

Academic Growth: A safe, intellectually nurturing space for critical discussion and new connections.

Who should apply? We are looking for 25 engaged participants, specifically:

- MA and PhD students from relevant fields.
- Practitioners from NGOs, the public sector, or mass media.

⏳ Final Deadline: 25 May 2026

🔗 How to join: Complete the online application form on our website and send your CV to [email protected].

Let’s explore the diversity of Europe together!







This Summer School is a joint initiative of the ECMI and the Coppieters Foundation.

06/05/2026

24/04/2026

21/04/2026

Wow! What a team!🎉

We are pleased to present you with the new board of YEN.

Johanna Kezdi (President)
Filip Budar (VPIR)
Wencke Andresen (VPER)
Lena Fletcher (Treasurer)
Sophie Hajszan (CMI)
Martin Kits Niewenkamp (CMRP)
George Fudulea (CC)
--
Wow! Was für ein Team!🎉

Wir freuen uns, euch den neuen Vorstand der JEV vorstellen zu dürfen.

Johanna Kezdi (Präsidentin)
Filip Budar (VPIR)
Wencke Andresen (VPER)
Lena Fletcher (Schatzmeisterin)
Sophie Hajszan (CMI)
Martin Kits Niewenkamp (CMRP)
George Fudulea (CC)
1 Min.

20/04/2026

OPEN CALL CONNECTING VOICES 2026

Join our international exchange with young adults
from european minorities! ❤

📍 Knivsberg (DK/DE border region)
🗓️ 10-14 June 2026
👀 We’re looking for 20–25 young people from across Europe

Together with the Minderheiten Kompetenz Netzwerk
(MKN), we’re hosting a 5-day exchange on minority
perspectives, participation and visibility with a special focus on Sinti and Roma communities.

WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Lived everyday experiences, minority identities and political
participation with a special focus on Sinti and Roma communities, we’ll look at how antigypsyism appears in Europe today.

WHAT YOU’LL ACTUALLY DO
– participate in workshops & open discussions & networking opportunities
– learn about Roma perspectives on mechanisms of antigypsyism, structural exclusion and representation
– share your own minority background and speak about current topics, issues and ideas important to your community
– go on an excursion to Flensburg and Sankelmark Academy
– meet people working in local politics & European minority advocacy
– try out storytelling and media formats
– contribute to the “Who We Are” digital project (minority identity archive)

If you’re interested in minority issues and want to connect with other young adults from minority communities from across Europe, this is for you!

THE BASICS
📌Arrival: 10 June (by 16:00)
📌Departure: 14 June (from 10:00)
📌Deadline: 10 May 2026

APPLY VIA THE LINK IN OUR BIO

20/04/2026

OPEN CALL CONNECTING VOICES 2026

Join our international exchange with young adults
from european minorities! ❤

📍 Knivsberg (DK/DE border region)
🗓️ 10-14 June 2026
👀 We’re looking for 20–25 young people from across Europe

Together with the Minderheiten Kompetenz Netzwerk
(MKN), we’re hosting a 5-day exchange on minority
perspectives, participation and visibility with a special focus on Sinti and Roma communities.

WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Lived everyday experiences, minority identities and political participation with a special focus on Sinti and Roma communities, we’ll look at how antigypsyism appears in Europe today.

WHAT YOU’LL ACTUALLY DO
– participate in workshops & open discussions & networking opportunities
– learn about Roma perspectives on mechanisms of antigypsyism, structural exclusion and representation
– share your own minority background and speak about current topics, issues and ideas important to your community
– go on an excursion to Flensburg and Sankelmark Academy
– meet people working in local politics & European minority advocacy
– try out storytelling and media formats
– contribute to the “Who We Are” digital project (minority identity archive)

If you’re interested in minority issues and want to connect with other young adults from minority communities from across Europe, this is for you!

THE BASICS
📌Arrival: 10 June (by 16:00)
📌Departure: 14 June (from 10:00)
📌Deadline: 10 May 2026

APPLY VIA THE LINK IN OUR BIO

18/04/2026

Heute haben wir erfolgreich unsere Vollversammlung in Montroulez, Frankreich abgehalten. Unter anderem haben wir den neuen Vorstand gewählt. Neu gewählt wurden Präsidentin, Kommisar für Minderheitenrechte & Politik, Kommissarin für Mitgliederintegration, Kommisar für Kommunikation und Schatzmeister.
Wir freuen uns auf die gemeinsame Arbeit! ✨
Weitere Ergebnisse werden demnächst veröffentlicht.

Im Bild von links aus:
Bo Sösemann, Generalsekretär,
Martin Kits Niewenkamp (DM+) als Kommissar für Minderheitenrechte und Politik,
Johanna Kézdi (ADJ) als Präsidentin,
Weronika Koston (BJDM) ehemaliges Vorstandsmitglied,
Filip Budar (Pawk) als Vizepräsident für Internes,
Marie Benthin, Projektmanagerin.

- - - - - - - -

Today we successfully held our General Assembly in Montroulez, France. Among other things, we elected the new Board. The newly elected members are the President, the Convenor for Minority Rights & Policy, the Convenor for Member Integration, the Convenor for Communication, and the Treasurer. We look forward to working together! ✨
Further results will be published shortly.

In the photo, from left:
Bo Sösemann, Secretary General,
Martin Kits Niewenkamp (DM+) as Convenor for Minority Rights and Politics,
Johanna Kézdi (ADJ) as President,
Weronika Koston (BJDM), former board member,
Filip Budar (Pawk) as Vice President for Internal Relations
Marie Benthin, Project Manager.