European Youth Forum: YO!Fest back in Strasbourg for the 2nd edition of the European Youth Event – 20-21 May 2016
YO!Fest, taking place on 20th and 21st May, will see 7,500 young people debating with each other and politicians how to change Europe for the better. As a prominent part of the European Youth Event (EYE2016), YO!Fest will feature political debates, interactive activities and live music at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The 7th edition of YO!Fest (Youth Opinion Festival), the annual political youth-led festival organised by the European Youth Forum, has moved back to Strasbourg as part of of the 2nd edition of the European Youth Event (EYE2016). Today, the European Parliament opens its doors to 7,500 young people aged 16-30 from across Europe inviting them to debate with peers and decision- makers, around the theme “Together we can make a change”.
Over 200 panels, thought-provoking debates, interactive workshops and educational activities will take place inside the European Parliament and outside in the YO!Village, focusing on five main themes:
- War and Peace: Perspectives for a Peaceful Planet
- Apathy or Participation: Agenda for a Vibrant Democracy
- Exclusion or Access: Crackdown on Youth Unemployment
- Stagnation or Innovation: Tomorrow’s World of Work
- Collapse or Success: New Ways for a Sustainable Europe
Launching the two-day-event, an opening ceremony is taking place today in the YO!Village in front of the European Parliament, featuring keynote speeches from Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness and Sylvie Guillaume.
Johanna Nyman, President of the European Youth Forum said:
“Europe is and has been in an continuous crisis. How better to take the first steps to solve a crisis than to gather the ideas and innovation of young people? That is what we will be doing at YO!Fest! When it comes to achieving positive change in our society, I know that our generation, the young people and youth organisations are the key. We see everyday that when young people come together and organise, their impact is direct and long lasting. This is exactly our ambition with YO!Fest – to bring youth from across Europe together, but more importantly, to leave with ideas that can make a better future for us all!”
The two-day-event will draw to a close with an open-air concert focusing on migration: music has no borders (Saturday 19.00 – 24.00 – Esplanade Tivoli – YO!Village):. Politically engaged Israeli-American electronica-world fusion band Balkan Beat Box, headlining this year YO!Fest will be supported by Chilean cumbia-ska band Chico Trujillo.
