Here you get news from Young Europe, calls for applications for our programmes and awards as well as other current news from the Foundation.
We mourn the loss of Margot Friedländer. At 103, the honorary citizen of Berlin and long-time friend of the Schwarzkopf Foundation Young Europe has passed away. For ten years, we were able to award the Margot Friedländer Prize in her name to schools throughout Germany. In recent years, a special prize was added, named after her beloved brother Ralph Bentheim, who was murdered in Auschwitz. An obituary by André Schmitz.
On 22 April 2025, members of the Foundation's circle of friends and staff gathered to pay tribute to its founder, Pauline Schwarzkopf, on the occasion of her 117th birthday. In a festive atmosphere, the members remembered the extraordinary personality and impressive commitment of the founder, who created the Foundation in 1971 with the aim of giving a voice to young people and promoting European exchanges.
Do you know someone who is dedicated to fighting for a more pluralistic European society rooted in solidarity? Someone who fights for justice and stands up against discrimination? Nominate a young person from the member states of the Council of Europe to become the Young European of the Year 2025 and receive €5,000 to fund their own project fostering European integration or an internship with a member of the European Parliament or with another European or international institution.
We are currently looking for influencers and content creators who want to become a Young Europe Ambassador. Apply now if you are interested in various political topics, digital education, democracy and social participation for young people – or who want to start working on these issues now!
At this year's Media Academy of the Young Islam Conference (JIK), BIPoC and Muslim people between the ages of 17 and 27 can take part in a podcast mentoring program. Participants develop their own podcast episodes on topics such as anti-racism, community, sustainability and identity. Workshops, mentoring and professional support support the process. Applications are to be submitted with a podcast idea until April 10. More information on the JIK's website.
At the first edition of the conference, 200 young people from 31 countries discussed key security policy issues over two days. In working groups on geographical regions and topics such as technology, the environment, and transatlantic relations, they developed own solutions and proposals. First impressions of the conference and more information on the project can be found here.