Nationality: British

Present residency: Durham, England

Year of birth: 2001

“Creating action plans in a team environment would help to develop my teamworking abilities and my abilities to work under a deadline. I think of myself as a social person, and I enjoy meeting new people. I hope to contribute to the conference socially by actively engaging with the all of the interesting topics of conversation that will arise. Whilst I am a very open minded person, I’m also very passionate about social equality and social inclusion, and I believe that these beliefs will be reflected in my time at the conference.”

Nationality: Italian

Present residency: Budapest, Hungary.

Year of birth: 1999

“I foresee a conference centred around collaboration and active listening. Our shared knowledge, together with our ideas and perspectives, will play a pivotal role in my personal development as an individual, as a student and ultimately as an aspirant changemaker. I am eager to learn, inspire and get inspired! Two fundamental pillars of the philosophical practice are genuine curiosity and, alongside that, the art of asking the right question at the right time. My intention is to contribute to the conference with my philosophical attitude, sharing my story and gathering insights from others. One concept that has been at the heart of my recent reflections is Care. Taking care of ourselves, our communities and the world are essential seeds for nurturing healthy democracies. I view the conference as the ideal venue to deepen these thoughts and foster discussions on this topic.”

Nationality: German

Present residency: Berlin, Germany

Year of birth: 2003

“Through the conference, I would especially like to take advantage of the opportunity to learn a lot of new things about other similarly inquisitive participants and thereby broaden my perspective. In addition, the conference will help me step out of my comfort zone, jump right into discussions, and increase my confidence in public speaking. Of course, it’s also an opportunity to make great new friends who are interested in similar topics! Socially, I will participate by willingly listening to others and having the motivation to learn from others. In return, I also like to share my knowledge, visions and ideas. In that sense, I actively engage in discussions. It is also of particular importance to me that everyone who wants to speak gets a chance to do so, that everyone feels comfortable in my presence and dares to speak their own thoughts out loud. To promote ideas about the values of an open and democratic society, it is first and foremost important to actively talk about and discuss them. In this context, it is important for me, for example, to strengthen and promote the inclusiveness and participation of diverse people in the political debate. In this context, we should also take a closer look at what freedom of expression and freedom of the press actually mean and from which different perspectives they could be examined.“

Nationality: Armenia

Present residency: Armenia

Year of birth: 2004

“My participation in the International Youth Conference presents a profound opportunity for personal growth. Engaging with global peers and decision makers will offer me a unique perspective on the world, cultivating my leadership skills and expanding my network. It will be a crucible for critical thinking, allowing me to analyze complex global issues, and it will instill in me the resilience required to face adversity, a trait crucial in navigating Armenia’s current challenges. At the conference, I intend to make a meaningful social contribution by representing Armenia and its distinctive journey towards democracy and open society. Through thoughtful and inclusive dialogue, I aim to foster a sense of unity among participants, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. By sharing Armenia’s experiences and listening to others, I hope to contribute to a harmonious and interconnected European community. Within the conference, I will passionately advocate for the values essential to an open and democratic society. I believe that inclusivity, robust civic engagement, and accessible education are the cornerstones of a thriving democracy. Furthermore, I will ardently champion tolerance and vehemently oppose the corrosive forces of nationalism, racism, and intolerance. My aim is to offer a vision for a more just, compassionate, and united Europe, echoing our collective aspiration for lasting peace and democratic vitality.“

Nationality: British

Present residency: Birmingham, United Kingdom

Year of Birth: 2003

“I hope to learn about social action within different countries across Europe and the barriers young people are facing. I hope to feel inspired by the brilliant work young people are completing and bring back new ideas to use within my community. I am excited for my communication and cultural awareness to enhance across the participation of the conference. I am an #iWill ambassador, a movement empowering young people to make change within their communities, and one of the core values is telling your story. I cant wait to hear about everyone’s passions and stories so we can learn together, as well as share my own story. I will bring to the conference nearly 10 years experience of social action/volunteer work within the community. My passion is empowering young people to have a voice and knowing they do not have to take the cards they are given. Our voice matters and we should be listened to. This has involved making change to mental and physical health services for young people. All of this experience has opened my eyes to society and barriers within the community, which has further strengthen my values.
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Nationality: Italian

Present Residence: Lucca, Italy

Year of birth: 2001

“The IYTT conference will surely be an opportunity to concretely give a voice to my values, build confidence and empowerment in a society where young people too often feel neglected. I plan to keep an open mind, creating an atmosphere of curiosity, awareness and positivity. I’m looking forward to getting to know all the participants and potentially developing valuable friendships. Strongly driven by empathy, my goal is to bring my perspectives on equity, inclusivity, sustainability and critical thinking from a country which is struggling with its democratic values.“

Nationality: Ecuadorian

Present residency: Paris, France

Year of birth: 1998

“For me, there is an immeasurable value in listening and learning from others. And this is an opportunity to share with people who have common goals even though we are from different contexts, strengthening that hope for the future and enhancing the idea that young people, in fact, are the ones who can act for change. Each person has experiences that form her/his as a person. My case is no different, although my academic and professional background could contribute to the discussion of various topics, it is actually my desire to connect with people and work on something that motivates me. So I have a great willingness to dialogue. I have worked directly on issues concerning democracy either in the field of research or at work level. So I can speak from personal experience about my observations and how I have experienced it in my country, Ecuador, and the differences I have appreciated living in other countries.“

Nationality: Armenian

Present residency: Armenia

Year of birth: 2003

“I will be working with participants from different countries and nationalities. I consider this as a unique opportunity to learn about new cultures and new perspectives on how different social, cultural, educational and other problems are being solved, what are some other critical issues addressed among other countries’ youth and share experiences with other participants in order to find solutions. Also, this conference will let me enhance my leadership, cooperative working skills, will help me connect with more individuals and enlarge my network. I will be open to share about my culture, my country, my values and learn about others’ as well. I am looking forward to connect with valuable people, be easy-going and make as many connections as possible, share my experience in any field that will contribute the conference (i.e. media skills, sharing start-up or success stories or anything that I have learned before). I will be respectful to any participant and try to learn from everyone a much as I can gain new important values. I support and share the idea of open democratic society. I took part in various projects on contributing to the democratic society and I will be open to share my knowledge.“

Nationality: German

Present residency: Hamburg, Germany

Year of birth: 2001

“Through conference participation I will significantly broaden my horizon on ways to foster an open and democratic society, which will be achieved among others by ideally challenging my own views and attempting to integrate multiple perspectives into one vision. Personal communication and endurance skills, I believe, will be further honed. I think listening is a powerful tool and I would like to make sure that everyones voice is heard in groupwork/group settings. Additionally, I would like to get to know as many people as possible:). By taking critical stances/approaches that I have acquired throughout university and personal life experiences, which I hope will lead us to more effective policy strategies.”

Nationality: Polish, German

Present residency: Venice, Italy

Year of birth: 2003

“Different life stories form beautifully diverse people and thoughts. I believe that our own way of thinking is constantly influenced by the people we meet. I hope that I will be able to understand more and deeper through other peoples input on important issues. I am very thankful for everything I have experienced so far in life and the lessons it has taught me. I hope that I’ll be able to share some of it, through stories, art and many conversations. I believe personal contribution and responsibility is the base of any democratic society. I will try to communicate my values, while being open to change and new influences.”

Nationality: Italian

Present residency: Trento, ITaly

Year of birth: 2002

“I am sure the Conference will be an amazing opportunity to exchange visions with other young people and that will inevitably broaden my horizons and make me see things from a different perspective. Participating in such an enrichening experience with other people with whom I share similar views is a good basis to establish solid friendships and connections and contribute to a joyful environment throughout the event. One of my main concerns in building a more open and democratic society is not leaving anyone behind, so I would like to promote inclusiveness and full-on democracy-inhancing policies. The impact of tangible changes, which I hope to contribute on, in my opinion has to be thorough.”

Nationality: Azerbaijan

Present residency: Lund, Sweden

Year of birth: 2002

“Taking into account that I will be circled by different people, cultures and mindset, this will enable me to be more open-minded, more communicative, more tolerant, especially in terms of cultural awareness. As I will be able to enlarge my academic and practical knowledge, I would like to sustain the continuation of the Project in my community as a youth worker. I think, the first contributions could be sharing my own knowledge which I have acquired from my academic and practical experiences. Because, sharing is caring. How much sharing, that much spreading.“

Nationality: Catalan (Spanish)

Present residency: Girona, Catalonia

Year of Birth: 2000

“I expect to be able to forge interesting connections and expand my knowledge on ideas and initiatives at the intersection of democracy and youth. I hope to serve as a local anchor to the place’s culture and the multicultural community of the conference while communicating the debates and ideas of the conference outside its bubble into local youth climate groups. I will bring a voice and expertise on the importance of future-centred and arts-based approaches to democracy and decision making in times of crisis and climate change.“

Nationality: German

Present residency: Magdeburg, Germany

Year of Birth: 2003

“The people I will meet at the IYTT will help me learn about new perspectives to develop my own view on the happening in the world. Simultaneously, these exchanges will help me advance my critical thinking on these issues. I hope to return from the conference with even more motivation and ideas on how to integrate and unite people into the democratic process. I’ve had a lot of experience working with people from various backgrounds, and I’ve learned to always be inclusive while appreciating where people’s perspectives come from. In every interaction, this fosters an environment of empathy and understanding that encourages people to be open and honest. I can’t wait to bring that to the conference. An open and democratic society is one that enables everyone to participate in it, where every person feels comfortable and important enough to do so. Our understanding of democracy is often based on theory, yet it is lived in emotion and sentiments. I will constantly advocate to take this gap into consideration when we talk about the concerning on-goings in the world.“

Nationality: German

Present residency: Berlin, Germany

Year of birth: 2003

“Participating in the conference will expose me to diverse perspectives from global youth leaders, deepening my understanding of international issues and refining my vision for a progressive and democratic society. I will bring the spirit of collaboration and innovation from my experiences as a founder in Germany, fostering connections and creating opportunities for open dialogue among participants. I will share insights from my work on democracy-supporting solutions, my vision for educational reform, and propose data-driven approaches to political decision-making, underscoring the importance of active youth engagement in shaping a transparent and democratic future.”

Nationality: Spanish

Present residency: Barcelona, Spain

Year of Birth: 2001

“In the IYTT conference, I will gain a valuable, practical insight in the field of social sciences and politics that will certainly be very useful for my future professional career, as I would like to develop it in public institutions, in a position that allows me to change the status quo in order to contribute to a better future where people and their well-being are the central focus of our society. I look forward to exchanging experiences and knowledge with other young, like-minded people. Since I am from Barcelona, I will also be glad to act as a host to make all my fellow participants feel welcome in the city. I am a critical and analytical thinker with a special interest in the concepts of One Health (an approach that recognizes the links between human, animal and environmental health) and equality. I firmly believe that health scientists should be deeply involved in the policy- and decision-making of our countries (the cracks in our healthcare system that were put on display by the COVID-19 pandemics were proof of that). That is why my scientific background will be an added value that complements the abilities and knowledge of other participants.”

Nationality: Portuguese

Present residency: Portugal

Year of birth: 2001

“My participation in this conference will undoubtedly have a great impact on my personal development, as it is a constant sharing of ideas and improvements for our society. I strongly believe that young people are the future of the world and that they should be the ones to instil new policy briefs in our parliament, generating thoughts and ideas that should be implemented as soon as possible. As a young Portuguese citizen of the European Union, I believe I have a fundamental role to play in sharing and creating new ideas, actively contributing to the lives of our people. On a personal level, I will continue to defend my values, always speaking of the collective and generating a relaxed but professional working environment. Soft skills such as communication, critical thinking and creativity will undoubtedly improve the most during this conference. On a social level, I definitely want to share ideas and listen to what other young people have to say. As a woman, and currently working in STEM, I feel I have a huge role to play in instilling in society, and in people from whatever field, that the role of women is important and even more so in science, engineering and IT professions, among many others. There is still no equality in STEM. We must always look at the world and its development as a society as a whole: gender equality will always make a difference in political and technological decisions, looking at this issue with optimism and the will to be better! Personal opinions should always be shared taking into account the people around us, trying to defend a point of view that we believe is interesting for the subject in question. As a Portuguese and young European, I was born after our great revolution in 1974, so I have always lived in a democratic country and society. However, even though we are free, improvements have and must continue to be implemented because no society is perfect and there is always something to improve. I therefore believe that dialogue between different people from different countries and backgrounds is the best way to implement new ideas for a society in which we can all live democratically and freely. We are the change because together we are capable of being and doing better.
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Nationality: Spanish

Present residency: Barcelona, Spain

Year of birth: 2001

“Connecting with relevant actors when it comes to democratic innovation and exchanging ideas on the future of democracy. As a citizen of Barcelona, I believe I can bring to the table many tips and tricks on navigating the city. My academic background as a Philosophy, Politics and Economics graduate, my civic engagement and my professional experiences with public administrations are connected with a political vision for democratic and socially just societies.“

Nationality: German

Present residency: Dresden, Germany

Year of birth: 2003

“Meeting others and learning from their stories has never not led to a widening of my own horizon. Discussing the practical implementation of ideas is hopefully going to prepare me for future activism and engagement. I hope to find the balance between sharing my own perspectives and listening to others. Additionally, I strongly believe in the power of respectful disagreements and seeking compromises, and I will try to foster productive conversation. I live in Germany, a supposedly free and democratic country, yet in a region that is known for a particularly high support for anti-democratic movements. Hopefully, my experiences and thoughts concluded from this situation are going to contribute something to the development of ideas that focus on keeping democracy alive and attractive.“

Nationality: Spanish

Present residency: Beijing, China

Year of Birth: 1998

“Participating in the conference will connect me with like-minded individuals, fostering diverse perspectives and experiences, ultimately broadening my horizons and deepening my commitment to democratic and equitable values. Socially, I will contribute to the conference by actively engaging in discussions, fostering collaboration among attendees, and creating a sense of community, thus enriching the social fabric of the event. Regarding the values of an open and democratic society, I will contribute by sharing my insights and experiences, presenting innovative ideas, and emphasizing the role of international education as a catalyst for societal transformation.“

Nationality: Norwegian

Present residency: Lisbon, Portugal

Year of birth: 2004

“My participation at the IYC Conference will enhance and contribute to my personal development in several ways. Firstly, as I will have to travel a significant distance on my own, I will be forced to exit my comfort zone and learn how to be prepared and face the challenges that can appear during travel. Furthermore, the conference itself will allow me to learn more about myself and more about the world by meeting other young engaged people from all over Europe, allowing me to learn about important things and issues in the world, to which I have not been exposed to previously. Most likely, other participants will also have different opinions and perspectives on the issues of which I am aware and have knowledge about. Therefore, synthesising previous knowledge with new knowledge will allow me to personally develop, as transformation of ideas and opinions is a key part of growing as a person. During the conference, I will contribute socially by being open and approachable and obviously by getting to know my fellow participants with whom I will engage in discussions and activities. By doing this, I hope to contribute to an open and free social environment where everyone feels included and in which the other participants feel free to share their thoughts and opinions, especially about democracy in our modern context, as this is the role of the conference. This will hopefully will result in fruitful discussions and concrete ideas towards how we, as young people, can contribute to safeguarding a democratic way of life and the democratic systems and principles which is at the foundation. I will contribute in several different ways. Firstly, I will bring with me the experience of living in several different societies in different parts of Europe (Norway (& Sweden), Italy (& Slovenia), Portugal), which all face different challenges when it comes to safeguarding and developing their respective democracies. Due to this knowledge and experience of the issues several countries face, I have gained a more holistic approach in viewing and perceiving our democracies and the values they are built on. Furthermore, living abroad for several years obviously required me to be open and to adapt to the culture I was living in, and this has allowed me to empathize and understand others’ points of view, which certainly will allow me to contribute to the conference by fostering teamwork and understanding.“

Nationality: Poland, Ukraine

Present residency: Gothenburg, Sweden

Year of birth: 2001

“Participating in conferences will facilitate my personal growth by broadening my knowledge and exposing me to diverse perspectives. I see inspiration from fellow participants as a catalyst for enhancing my skills and expanding my horizons. I’m open to sharing my insights and experiences during group interactions and discussions, which can contribute to meaningful dialogue and knowledge sharing among conference participants. I plan to share my perspectives on the importance of transparency, inclusivity, and the protection of individual rights in a democratic society. By actively participating in these discussions and advocating for the values of an open and democratic society, I aim to contribute to a richer and more informed dialogue at the conference.”

Nationality: Ukrainian

Present residency: Gothenburg, Sweden

Year of birth: 1999

“Participation in the IYC will bring me insights into what concerns youth in different democracies and maybe even autocracies. Since I study economics, I want to develop more arguments for why democracy is best for society and economics. I have experienced life in different countries in Europe as a student, part-time and full-time worker. I am an open-minded person, who likes to listen to people. I have lived the life of a child and a young person in a democracy, where many components failed. I will contribute to the conference through my exposure to these problems and my ideas of how society should work and how to make it happen.”

Nationality:  Singaporean

Present residency: Leamington Spa, United Kingdom

Year of birth: 2002

“The IYTT International Youth Conference is one of the phenomenal ways in which students of my age quite literally shape the future of democracy. I look forward to experiencing first-hand the iterative journey of socioeconomic policymaking and leveraging those insights to build an impact-driven career. I’m excited to share my lived experiences in four global democracies (Thailand, India, Singapore & the United Kingdom), putting previous experiences & advocacy to good use, but more importantly learning from the varied & diverse stories of my peers – in the hope that we can collectively shape the future of democracy & its respected institutions. It is an honour to shape real-world policy making by representing the youth voice. Specifically, as someone who is interested in the governance & equity aspects of democracies, I enjoyed reading into the IYTT Democracy Handbook’s policies that would promote well-being through repurposing economic metrics, democratising taxation & enhancing forums for activism – as I believe one of the greatest challenges we face in current democracies is the issue of participation or lack thereof.”