News

On April 2, 2026, the Schwarzkopf Foundation Young Europe celebrates its 55th anniversary. Much has changed since its founding – in Europe, in society and within the foundation itself. Yet for us, Europe remains a shared project that thrives on the voices of young and diverse people. This is precisely what our work has been built on from the very beginning: For over five decades, we have been strengthening young perspectives for an open, democratic and pluralistic Europe.

We are currently looking for mentors with experience in civil society, activism, campaigning, youth work, communications, advocacy or related fields. Mentors will support and empower participants of the Youth Movement & Campaign Accelerator (YMCA), a programme that supports young activists in developing and strengthening their campaigns.

„Empowering Youth, Building Resilience: A New Era for Media Education“ explores how youth-led, rights-based, and inclusive critical media education can empower young people to actively participate in and shape Europe’s digital public sphere.

In our latest newsletter, we – together with our new Executive Director, Seyran Bostancı – look back on 2025: on the development of new projects and the continuation of existing ones, and on some of the many current crises and challenges in Europe and the world. We also provide an initial outlook on our activities in the coming year.

The European Advent Concert 2025 once again brought together over a thousand visitors in Berlin’s Sophienkirche and offered a diverse program of communal singing, musical performances, and spoken contributions. We look back on an evening that demonstrated how powerfully art can connect people and how much diversity enriches Europe. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Hertie Foundation, whose support made the concert possible.

Dr Seyran Bostancı has taken over as Executive Director of the Schwarzkopf Foundation Young Europe on December 1, 2025. The sociologist previously worked at the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM). She follows Tomáš Sacher, who is leaving the foundation at his own request. Bostancı will strengthen the foundation's profile in the field of digital democracy, and continue to work with young people for an open, united, and pluralistic Europe.