1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:02,920 Valentin: We come from very different countries. 2 00:00:03,370 --> 00:00:06,918 Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova. 3 00:00:07,218 --> 00:00:18,618 But at the end of the day, having this very distinct cultural backgrounds, sometimes religious backgrounds, what unites us is indeed the European values such as tolerance, open-mindness, and so on. 4 00:00:19,805 --> 00:00:23,935 Darek: This was Valentin a Young European Ambassador from Moldova. 5 00:00:24,675 --> 00:00:35,425 Besides Valentin, there is also Anna from Ukraine and Joanna from Poland who we are talking to in this episode about the Young European Ambassadors initiative. 6 00:00:36,055 --> 00:00:36,925 What is it? 7 00:00:36,965 --> 00:00:40,625 What do Young European Ambassadors really do. 8 00:00:41,225 --> 00:00:45,155 Why it's important for them and how one can join the initiative. 9 00:00:45,875 --> 00:00:58,385 My name is Dariusz Grzemny and together with Marietta Balazs we would like to invite you to listen to this episode of UNDER 30 podcast brought to you by the EU - Council of Europe youth partnership. 10 00:00:59,784 --> 00:01:00,474 Marietta: Hello, everyone. 11 00:01:00,614 --> 00:01:08,524 Today we have a special episode because we are recording at the Youth Action Week, which takes place in Strasbourg with over 400 young people. 12 00:01:09,094 --> 00:01:14,154 And we are very lucky because we have with us the Young European Ambassadors participating very actively. 13 00:01:14,154 --> 00:01:20,444 So we thought that we would use this chance to record a podcast episode and introduce the initiative to our listeners. 14 00:01:20,984 --> 00:01:30,814 And as you know, the EU - Council of Europe youth partnership geographical coverage encompasses the 50 signatory states of the European Cultural Convention. 15 00:01:31,364 --> 00:01:36,164 But some of our activities may have an explicit region of focus on specific regions. 16 00:01:36,194 --> 00:01:40,594 For example, Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Southeast Europe or the South Mediterranean. 17 00:01:41,057 --> 00:01:50,737 For example, last year we had the post COVID-19 recovery impact studies done in both regions, Western and Eastern Europe and in Southeast Europe. 18 00:01:51,307 --> 00:01:59,477 And for this year, we are also planning activities connected to not just COVID, but also the third European Youth Convention in the regions. 19 00:02:00,527 --> 00:02:07,477 And in the youth partnership we also strive to translate our publications to as many languages as possible. 20 00:02:08,107 --> 00:02:17,017 And for example, our Youth Work Essentials, Youth Policy Essentials and Youth Research Essentials series are now available in more than 10 languages. 21 00:02:17,107 --> 00:02:25,897 And also we have just published the Youth Policy Manual in English and also in Russian and soon it will be available in Serbian and French as well. 22 00:02:26,529 --> 00:02:26,739 Darek: Okay. 23 00:02:26,739 --> 00:02:30,549 If you can introduce yourself, that will be nice to know who you are, where you come from. 24 00:02:31,749 --> 00:02:36,819 Joanna: So, hello, my name is Joanna Bagadzińska, I'm the Young European Ambassador from Poland. 25 00:02:37,719 --> 00:02:41,719 Anna: Hi, my name is Anna Bazarna and I'm a Young European Ambassador from Ukraine. 26 00:02:42,249 --> 00:02:42,729 Valentin: Good afternoon. 27 00:02:42,729 --> 00:02:44,059 My name is Valentin Josan. 28 00:02:44,079 --> 00:02:46,749 I'm a Young European Ambassador from the Republic of Moldova. 29 00:02:47,489 --> 00:02:52,829 Darek: And I think it will be interesting to start with exploring a little bit what the initiative is actually about. 30 00:02:53,289 --> 00:02:58,169 A lot of people probably heard about it, but if you can say a few words, what actually this initiative is about. 31 00:02:58,429 --> 00:03:00,169 Why it was created, what for? 32 00:03:01,239 --> 00:03:22,413 Valentin: So, the three of us come from the Young European Ambassadors initiative, which is a project launched in 2016 by EU Neighbours east and the project concentrates on somehow enhancing the cooperation between EU member states and the Eastern Partnership countries, which are Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Moldova. 33 00:03:22,413 --> 00:03:24,181 Ukraine and Belarus. 34 00:03:24,571 --> 00:03:30,853 We share European values and principles in those territories from the Eastern Partnership. 35 00:03:31,243 --> 00:03:33,883 We work on projects together. 36 00:03:33,883 --> 00:03:39,767 We come to conferences, to Strasburg, for example, such as this week. 37 00:03:39,871 --> 00:04:00,392 And the initiative was created in order to sustain and develop this cooperation and this interaction between the countries in order to somehow solidify this strong European community that we have, and to facilitate also the integration of those six countries within the family of the EU countries. 38 00:04:01,412 --> 00:04:03,602 Marietta: And in practical terms, what does it mean? 39 00:04:03,602 --> 00:04:09,392 What is that you as Young European Ambassadors actually do on a daily basis or weekly basis. 40 00:04:09,962 --> 00:04:13,232 Joanna: I think that the main thing is to spread awareness. 41 00:04:13,532 --> 00:04:16,922 So actually that's the key, like all of our initiatives... 42 00:04:16,962 --> 00:04:24,522 the aim is to spread awareness in the European Union about the Eastern Partnership countries and in the Eastern Partnership countries about European Union. 43 00:04:24,912 --> 00:04:26,682 So we share knowledge. 44 00:04:26,742 --> 00:04:34,452 We share our experience, really want to make people interested in this region and make them understand how some things work. 45 00:04:34,542 --> 00:04:40,452 Because I know that sometimes for us as Europeans, these countries may be new, maybe sometimes even exotic. 46 00:04:40,752 --> 00:04:44,922 So we really want to share our experience and our common values. 47 00:04:45,665 --> 00:04:47,195 Anna: It's also about networking. 48 00:04:47,585 --> 00:04:50,585 And I feel like all of us we are like changers. 49 00:04:51,005 --> 00:04:57,980 So we motivate not only each other, but also other people, we are inspiring everyone who is around us. 50 00:04:58,546 --> 00:05:06,076 Darek: I think that very good ideas talking about inspiring, motivating, sharing knowledge or awareness raising. 51 00:05:07,726 --> 00:05:08,866 But how do you do this? 52 00:05:08,926 --> 00:05:18,946 I mean, in practical terms, do you go to schools, for example, do you meet young people in youth clubs or what is actually the work kind of on the grounds? 53 00:05:19,046 --> 00:05:24,356 Do you do such kind of work because sharing knowledge and awareness raising can be done in very different ways. 54 00:05:24,356 --> 00:05:27,736 You can organize campaigns, but you can also go to the places where young people are. 55 00:05:27,736 --> 00:05:29,266 So what are your tasks? 56 00:05:29,586 --> 00:05:32,746 Do you organise your own projects that you are responsible for in your community. 57 00:05:32,776 --> 00:05:33,886 What are these projects about? 58 00:05:35,026 --> 00:05:39,091 Valentin: I guess it depends on every country, from the Eastern Partnership as well as from the EU. 59 00:05:39,091 --> 00:05:42,547 I can speak on behalf of the Moldovan delegation here. 60 00:05:42,547 --> 00:05:56,058 We do a lot of school visits or at least we did before the pandemic and now we're trying to revitalize that initiative of going to villages, to local schools, telling children and young people about what the EU is. 61 00:05:56,059 --> 00:06:07,546 I had a colleague for example, who had an old Moldovan passport, which he was using before Moldova signed the association agreement, which allowed us to travel freely to Europe without visas. 62 00:06:07,584 --> 00:06:17,914 In one school he ripped his passport in front of everyone to demonstrate what European integration is and what it means for us to join European family. 63 00:06:17,942 --> 00:06:21,032 This demonstrative action is one example of what we do. 64 00:06:21,392 --> 00:06:26,833 We try to make it clear to young people what the EU is and how we work together. 65 00:06:27,133 --> 00:06:28,743 We also do city quests. 66 00:06:28,793 --> 00:06:31,846 We can do some events such as workshops. 67 00:06:32,266 --> 00:06:40,380 I led two sessions on disinformation, fighting against fake news, against Kremlin based propaganda and so on. 68 00:06:40,437 --> 00:06:41,997 So it's a lot of projects. 69 00:06:42,057 --> 00:06:49,163 We don't like very formal educational settings in which one person is in the front presenting something for one hour and everybody's listening. 70 00:06:49,163 --> 00:06:53,855 So we tried to involve the participants as well and young people, because it's a collaborative process. 71 00:06:53,905 --> 00:06:55,215 but that's what we do in Moldova. 72 00:06:55,645 --> 00:06:59,865 Joanna: When it comes to the European Union actions I think it depends on the goals. 73 00:06:59,957 --> 00:07:05,447 Because for us, it's a bit harder to cooperate because we are in different countries. 74 00:07:05,777 --> 00:07:07,467 So usually we work online. 75 00:07:07,497 --> 00:07:11,288 We have online profiles for each initiative. 76 00:07:11,288 --> 00:07:16,012 So we are on Facebook and Instagram, trying to do some quizzes, some activities. 77 00:07:16,342 --> 00:07:19,042 And we're trying to involve as many people as possible. 78 00:07:19,252 --> 00:07:22,282 So that's why we went for the online events mostly. 79 00:07:22,522 --> 00:07:28,222 Of course we do organize some offline events, but not as many as the online one. 80 00:07:28,522 --> 00:07:33,982 So actually we are a part of some bigger campaigns, but we also work with the people. 81 00:07:34,222 --> 00:07:36,652 So, it actually depends on the person. 82 00:07:36,652 --> 00:07:39,232 If you have an idea, go, you can do anything. 83 00:07:39,232 --> 00:07:42,292 Like sometimes you do pub quizzes, so it's really informal way. 84 00:07:42,292 --> 00:07:47,932 Like we really want to gather people and have some fun, not do it in some traditional boring way. 85 00:07:47,932 --> 00:07:49,822 So it really depends on the topic. 86 00:07:50,092 --> 00:07:56,092 And actually just on ambassadors, if you just have an idea, we'll get the support and it's up to you. 87 00:07:56,512 --> 00:08:12,172 Anna: Yes, and also I wanted to say that we are also like the voice of youth of each country because in Ukraine, for example, we also have meetings with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we speak about how Ukraine is represented, like what youth in Europe knows about Ukraine? 88 00:08:12,712 --> 00:08:14,872 What pictures in their head they have. 89 00:08:15,262 --> 00:08:23,152 And also we have campaigns in order to spread information about our humor sense, about our traditions, about everything. 90 00:08:23,212 --> 00:08:25,712 And mostly it's online because of the pandemic. 91 00:08:26,162 --> 00:08:30,890 But I know that now we're starting to do such campaigns offline. 92 00:08:31,370 --> 00:08:36,243 And, yeah, I think we are like the voice of youth, we're representing also youth. 93 00:08:36,573 --> 00:08:44,053 And, we are also like connectors between some governments and youth, and we make our wishes visible. 94 00:08:44,713 --> 00:08:49,633 We show like, here we are, here what we do, here, what we want to do here, we're going to change. 95 00:08:50,203 --> 00:08:52,273 Here, we don't like that, but we like that. 96 00:08:52,843 --> 00:08:58,693 Joanna: I think that it's worth to mention that we work even under very extreme circumstances. 97 00:08:58,993 --> 00:09:04,273 Because we still have a structure in Belarus and in Ukraine and the Ukraine group is extremely active. 98 00:09:04,273 --> 00:09:06,963 Like it's the most active structure right now. 99 00:09:07,023 --> 00:09:08,103 They are very big. 100 00:09:08,133 --> 00:09:17,984 Like of course each structure is active, but Ukrainians right now are really strongly trying to, you know, just to connect people to do as many events as possible. 101 00:09:17,984 --> 00:09:21,254 So even now they operate in both countries. 102 00:09:22,214 --> 00:09:25,874 Marietta: And can you tell us how many Young European Ambassadors are there? 103 00:09:26,684 --> 00:09:31,214 And also like seeing all of you here, I feel that there is a very strong sense of community. 104 00:09:31,214 --> 00:09:34,213 So I guess you also have community building activities. 105 00:09:34,259 --> 00:09:41,169 Can you tell us a bit more about this and maybe why would it be good for someone to join the Young European Ambassadors. 106 00:09:41,339 --> 00:09:42,499 Darek: And how can you join? 107 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:48,998 Who can become, is there any profile that is actually required to be a Young European Ambassador? 108 00:09:49,238 --> 00:09:50,408 Joanna: So many questions. 109 00:09:50,478 --> 00:09:58,488 Maybe I will go with the sense of community, because the funny thing is that we never met before and we never texted because we are in a different structure. 110 00:09:58,488 --> 00:10:03,378 Like we work together, but the groups for each country and for the European Union, we work separately. 111 00:10:03,378 --> 00:10:08,598 Sometimes we do have some common projects, but technically we are like the separate structure. 112 00:10:08,637 --> 00:10:20,495 But I think that the common values, like they are so strong that's it's immediately after you meet someone, you just have the strong bound and lots of topics that you can talk about. 113 00:10:20,495 --> 00:10:24,365 So I think that's why we are really, really connected since very beginning. 114 00:10:24,985 --> 00:10:25,745 Anna: Yes, I agree. 115 00:10:25,865 --> 00:10:32,305 I feel like we're a family and when I came to this event, I didn't know most like anyone. 116 00:10:32,675 --> 00:10:39,425 Only one girl from Ukraine also, but I didn't know them, but I felt like I knew these people. 117 00:10:40,205 --> 00:10:46,875 So I saw them for the first time in my life, but I feel the energy and I feel like, yeah, we have the same vibe. 118 00:10:46,905 --> 00:10:48,195 We have the same values. 119 00:10:48,195 --> 00:10:50,595 We have the same perspectives. 120 00:10:51,135 --> 00:10:54,874 And, yes, I think that Young European Ambassadors, they have something special. 121 00:10:55,534 --> 00:11:09,229 And, this initiative, re-unites people who are not afraid of changes, who are not afraid of being open-minded, who are not afraid of making the first step and to show that I did it. 122 00:11:09,319 --> 00:11:10,609 And you also can do that. 123 00:11:11,149 --> 00:11:15,109 So, if you also can do that, you can join us and we can do it together. 124 00:11:15,889 --> 00:11:18,569 Valentin: I agree completely with the ideas mentioned so far. 125 00:11:18,683 --> 00:11:20,483 We come from very different countries. 126 00:11:20,933 --> 00:11:24,481 Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova. 127 00:11:24,781 --> 00:11:36,181 But at the end of the day, having this very distinct cultural backgrounds, sometimes religious backgrounds, what unites us is indeed the European values such as tolerance, open-mindness, and so on. 128 00:11:36,286 --> 00:11:41,179 And this is how we come together and get to know each other, become friends. 129 00:11:41,232 --> 00:11:51,304 And just to answer to a question about how we can join, who, where, when, if there's anyone from Moldova listening to this podcast now, you have to join right after you listened to the whole podcast. 130 00:11:51,427 --> 00:11:54,337 As I know now, the process of application is quite fluid. 131 00:11:54,757 --> 00:12:06,190 So you can join at any given moment by writing to the national leader of the country, if you know that person or contacting one of the Young European Ambassadors that you know. 132 00:12:06,550 --> 00:12:09,790 My name is again Valentin Josan, so you can find me on social media. 133 00:12:09,790 --> 00:12:12,523 You can text me and I'll help you join the initiative. 134 00:12:13,033 --> 00:12:14,983 We want people who share our values. 135 00:12:15,043 --> 00:12:27,230 We want people who are not afraid to speak out, to represent the voices, as Anna said, of the youth, the European youth in front of European officials, local officials, national officials as well. 136 00:12:27,283 --> 00:12:32,203 And if you have the energy, the time and the commitment you are most welcome to join. 137 00:12:32,947 --> 00:12:39,393 Anna: I think if you have desire, if you really want, and then we'll have energy, time and commitments. 138 00:12:41,047 --> 00:12:48,711 Joanna: And if you are from the European Union and you wish to join, you have to go to the euneighbourseast.eu website. 139 00:12:49,131 --> 00:12:55,881 And I think that the next intake will be in September, but for sure we will announce it on our social media. 140 00:12:56,151 --> 00:12:59,121 So I think that we'll leave all the links in the description. 141 00:12:59,121 --> 00:13:00,051 Maybe it will help. 142 00:13:00,111 --> 00:13:03,471 So all of the needed information will be there. 143 00:13:04,071 --> 00:13:04,431 Anna: Yes. 144 00:13:04,491 --> 00:13:11,847 And I think the same is also if you are from Ukraine and you're really willing to join us the links will be provided. 145 00:13:12,267 --> 00:13:14,213 But I think the intake will be September. 146 00:13:14,823 --> 00:13:16,593 Darek: And how many of you are there in the network? 147 00:13:17,143 --> 00:13:23,473 Anna: In general I think it's more than, if we take all countries, more than 500. 148 00:13:24,223 --> 00:13:25,603 Yeah, more than 500. 149 00:13:25,903 --> 00:13:28,543 Joanna: It's over 100 in the European Union. 150 00:13:28,693 --> 00:13:31,963 And the Ukrainian structure is quite big. 151 00:13:32,023 --> 00:13:33,973 Anna: I think it's maybe about 200. 152 00:13:34,183 --> 00:13:34,393 Valentin: Yeah. 153 00:13:34,933 --> 00:13:39,433 And then there's Moldova with less than 100, I would say around 70. 154 00:13:39,433 --> 00:13:40,783 Again, it depends on the country. 155 00:13:41,233 --> 00:13:44,469 And on the given time you're calculating the numbers. 156 00:13:44,949 --> 00:13:49,999 Because there are some periods in which one country specifically active doing projects. 157 00:13:49,999 --> 00:13:54,173 And then, that delegation might be a bit dormant in some circumstances. 158 00:13:54,713 --> 00:14:04,305 We had also a difference of numbers, let's say before the pandemic, after the pandemic, during that, because it also depends on the behavior of the youth in the country, too. 159 00:14:05,062 --> 00:14:19,165 Marietta: And we know that this initiative, as you said, was created in the framework of the EU neighborhood policy And, what does this support, what they give means, like, does it mean that they give you a platform to act or does it also come with the financial support. 160 00:14:19,515 --> 00:14:23,565 How can we imagine, for example, when you do a project, how does it come to life? 161 00:14:24,218 --> 00:14:26,528 Valentin: It is supporting all the dimensions. 162 00:14:26,528 --> 00:14:32,943 So I would say, from financial means, because obviously we can't do anything without having a bit of money on the materials. 163 00:14:33,153 --> 00:14:34,053 Joanna: Oh, I disagree. 164 00:14:34,053 --> 00:14:34,623 Actually. 165 00:14:34,623 --> 00:14:37,143 I think that we've done a lot without funds. 166 00:14:37,203 --> 00:14:40,893 Like I think that lots of our actions are cost free. 167 00:14:41,653 --> 00:14:46,623 Anna: If we speak about different campaigns like online sessions. 168 00:14:47,313 --> 00:14:49,383 Yeah, it's possible to do that. 169 00:14:50,073 --> 00:14:50,463 Easier. 170 00:14:50,853 --> 00:14:57,128 Yeah, but, offline and even coming to this event, of course we cannot do it without financial support. 171 00:14:57,458 --> 00:15:02,108 And there is a difference that online it's possible to do and it's easy to do. 172 00:15:02,168 --> 00:15:07,308 And it doesn't take a lot of money, but it's not that priceless. 173 00:15:07,308 --> 00:15:07,788 I think. 174 00:15:07,848 --> 00:15:14,140 So when you come and you see people having eye-to-eye contact, it's, it's better. 175 00:15:14,140 --> 00:15:14,710 I think. 176 00:15:15,700 --> 00:15:19,416 Valentin: And naturally besides financial funds, we get logistical help. 177 00:15:19,956 --> 00:15:29,621 Help in terms of being provided a platform in which we can act and represent again, the voices of young people, such as this given conferences in Strasbourg. 178 00:15:29,719 --> 00:15:34,609 And I feel like we feel included in the European family, through EU Neighbours east. 179 00:15:35,249 --> 00:15:40,529 Marietta: And I guess, especially now that Moldova and Ukraine have been granted the EU candidate status. 180 00:15:41,189 --> 00:15:44,561 And, it's becoming more and more important the work that you do. 181 00:15:45,016 --> 00:15:49,576 Have you already sensed some change in young people after this news. 182 00:15:50,060 --> 00:15:55,465 Valentin: I feel like I have felt changed throughout the last years. 183 00:15:56,035 --> 00:15:58,715 The last, let's say decade, more than a decade. 184 00:15:58,765 --> 00:16:06,179 Maybe, we had a large pro-European protests even in 2009 to overthrow the communist government at the time. 185 00:16:06,179 --> 00:16:12,015 So it's not like we were neutral before we're granted the status of a candidate. 186 00:16:12,495 --> 00:16:14,295 We worked for it very hard. 187 00:16:14,715 --> 00:16:20,607 We want it to be recognized as a European nation, as a country that's worth joining this family of the Union. 188 00:16:20,641 --> 00:16:28,271 We succeeded doing that and I'd like to congratulate Moldova and Ukraine on that, and Georgia with the possibility of joining in the future. 189 00:16:28,273 --> 00:16:37,303 So I feel like it's an ongoing process, including thanks to Young European Ambassadors or other active young people from these countries. 190 00:16:38,203 --> 00:16:38,923 Anna: Yeah, I agree. 191 00:16:38,983 --> 00:16:41,863 And also I think such youth, they don't change here. 192 00:16:42,433 --> 00:16:44,743 They give you more motivation. 193 00:16:44,743 --> 00:16:48,343 You see that you did a lot of a lot. 194 00:16:48,553 --> 00:16:51,305 And, it's also like this victory. 195 00:16:51,395 --> 00:16:58,955 It's also thanks to you, even if you did some small stuff and something not really big, but it's also thanks to you. 196 00:16:59,375 --> 00:17:05,675 And you see that you're doing it well and two should continue doing your job. 197 00:17:05,795 --> 00:17:09,663 And, it's like the beginning of something really great. 198 00:17:10,083 --> 00:17:11,373 And it's not about changes. 199 00:17:11,373 --> 00:17:14,163 It's about motivation to do even more. 200 00:17:14,493 --> 00:17:18,063 To show that we are even more than we are right now. 201 00:17:18,633 --> 00:17:23,643 Valentin: Oh, just mentioned, obviously we're happier now that we got the status as we work hard for it. 202 00:17:23,643 --> 00:17:27,077 And we feel like we were worth it. 203 00:17:27,175 --> 00:17:31,975 And this is why now we need even a stronger support from European institution. 204 00:17:31,975 --> 00:17:59,795 Young people need even more available resources and opportunities to work hard on creating this platform for negotiation, for changing policy, including in the sector of youth services, for us to be able to kind of model the legislation in order for it to be in accordance with European law so we can join the EU in, I hope, a short period of time. 205 00:18:01,205 --> 00:18:02,645 Darek: What do you think about your impact? 206 00:18:02,945 --> 00:18:15,085 What your impact is on young people and in the places where you work and what you still identify as gaps or challenges that you as Young European ambassadors need to really tackle and address. 207 00:18:15,205 --> 00:18:27,343 Because you talk a lot about that you do a lot of stuff, that you worked hard for, for example, Ukraine and Moldova, and you feel that your contribution really was kind of recognized when it comes to getting the candidacy status and so on. 208 00:18:27,823 --> 00:18:32,683 But what's your kind of impact on young people and where are the gaps you need to work? 209 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:39,548 Valentin: There is a difference in Moldova, at least, between young people from more remote villages and big cities. 210 00:18:40,268 --> 00:18:50,489 Obviously, people from big cities have more opportunities and they know much more about the European Union, on projects such as Erasmus and many more. 211 00:18:50,909 --> 00:18:56,594 That's why, as I said, in the beginning, we also tried to go to villages, in the schools in villages, as it is important. 212 00:18:56,629 --> 00:18:57,914 We do a good job. 213 00:18:57,944 --> 00:18:59,444 We can do an even better job. 214 00:18:59,684 --> 00:19:06,644 Because I am sure there are some locations in which young people still don't know what great chances says they have. 215 00:19:06,717 --> 00:19:11,217 And that they can join for conferences, workshops. 216 00:19:11,997 --> 00:19:16,720 Information sessions, even some university studies grants, let's say. 217 00:19:17,590 --> 00:19:30,006 So that's the thing we can work on to have an outreach, which is significant and to be as inclusive as possible because also all of us live in certain social bubbles. 218 00:19:30,396 --> 00:19:31,956 And we'll get the information from there. 219 00:19:32,316 --> 00:19:37,751 Maybe my friends are very socially active and that's how I know about many projects and opportunities, but there's a person 220 00:19:38,141 --> 00:19:41,111 less fortunate than me and we have to take them into account. 221 00:19:41,874 --> 00:19:50,934 Joanna: I can also say that in the European Union young people really do have a lot of opportunities, but sometimes they are really passive. 222 00:19:51,234 --> 00:19:55,484 So I think that's the one thing that young people can benefit from us. 223 00:19:55,874 --> 00:19:57,674 They get inspired sometimes. 224 00:19:57,764 --> 00:20:01,426 It was like, really small impulse just to acting. 225 00:20:01,756 --> 00:20:10,105 Because that's the thing that even though the actions aren't huge and you don't see like the big results right on spot, you can see that. 226 00:20:10,495 --> 00:20:15,385 Some small steps will bring you that bigger results and you cannot be passive. 227 00:20:15,415 --> 00:20:18,295 Like we really have a lots of rights, lots of opportunities. 228 00:20:18,595 --> 00:20:23,485 And our job is to just to use these opportunities as good as possible. 229 00:20:23,485 --> 00:20:28,075 So I think that's very important because we, as young people in European Union, 230 00:20:28,315 --> 00:20:32,855 sometimes we just like to be, you know, on the side, to be a bit passive. 231 00:20:32,905 --> 00:20:43,015 Like we have a lot of opportunities and now our job is to use them and to share the experience and to include all the people that didn't have this opportunity. 232 00:20:43,409 --> 00:20:52,289 Anna: And also I think that the impact, we cannot say that some impact can be big or small that I had a big impact and someone had smaller. 233 00:20:52,342 --> 00:20:54,595 I think it really depends because 234 00:20:54,665 --> 00:20:58,975 we are sharing a lot of different opportunities and possibilities and all of that. 235 00:20:59,305 --> 00:21:02,245 But also we are using social medias. 236 00:21:02,295 --> 00:21:12,590 And for example, me, when I joined initiative, I was the only person among my friends who, who learned about it, who found information, tried it. 237 00:21:12,610 --> 00:21:16,060 And my friends are like Young European Ambassador, who are you? 238 00:21:16,450 --> 00:21:17,530 What are you doing? 239 00:21:17,950 --> 00:21:20,050 Why are you going to such events? 240 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:21,130 What are you doing there? 241 00:21:21,460 --> 00:21:22,420 Oh, that's nice. 242 00:21:22,420 --> 00:21:23,590 I also want to join you. 243 00:21:23,710 --> 00:21:24,790 I also want to do that. 244 00:21:24,820 --> 00:21:25,630 How can I join? 245 00:21:25,630 --> 00:21:29,437 So they this third thing, like what are they doing? 246 00:21:29,467 --> 00:21:34,327 Because very often we have routine life, day-to-day, like just basic stuff. 247 00:21:34,807 --> 00:21:42,877 And then something in your head just like clicks and you're like, yes, I also want to join this community. 248 00:21:42,877 --> 00:21:44,617 I also want to meet new people. 249 00:21:44,647 --> 00:21:59,788 I also want to discover new countries and to exchange knowledge and to just to be active, because sometimes we are not active in our lives and we are just like (influ) of different situations. 250 00:22:00,268 --> 00:22:04,588 And then yeah, it's also possibility to be an active citizen. 251 00:22:05,188 --> 00:22:08,748 And to show that, hi, here I am. 252 00:22:08,928 --> 00:22:10,067 And, I'm ready. 253 00:22:10,277 --> 00:22:15,487 I'm ready to all of the challenges and I'm ready to help others also with challenges. 254 00:22:15,727 --> 00:22:18,877 Valentin: I think this is part of the principle of leading by example. 255 00:22:18,907 --> 00:22:24,427 And very often we're told that we are not Young European Ambassadors only during events. 256 00:22:24,491 --> 00:22:43,033 We are Young European Ambassadors for life, I guess by voting actively in elections and convincing old friends and acquaintances to vote and even strangers, by organizing petitions, by going to protest if we don't like something and using all the democratic tools that we have to make our voices heard. 257 00:22:43,078 --> 00:22:53,458 Because again, to be a Young European Ambassador means to have some values and to be ready to share them with the world in order to make an impact and maybe shape policymaking. 258 00:22:54,351 --> 00:22:57,471 Marietta: Thank you very much for this very fruitful conversation. 259 00:22:58,131 --> 00:23:16,130 And, have a look at the page of the Young European Ambassadors, follow them on social media and also have a look at our pages with a special focus on regional activities, especially our activities in solidarity with Ukraine, which also includes podcast where you can hear more about youth work in Ukraine and in the neighboring countries. 260 00:23:17,060 --> 00:23:28,269 And also have a look at our cooperation video or youth political participation, which was also recorded during the Youth Action Week in the Democracy Here, Democracy Now campaign of the council of Europe.