From 26 to 28 November 2025, we had the opportunity to take part in Shaping Europe’s Future, an international event organised by the University of Passau for the winners of the European Charlemagne Youth Prize – one of Europe’s most significant awards recognising young people who actively contribute to democracy and European cooperation. Over the course of three days, we found ourselves among students, academics, and experts from across Europe. We were united by a shared question: what might a resilient, democracy-based European future look like, and what role can we ourselves play in shaping it?
Students from the Faculty of Arts of the University of South Bohemia were invited to join the programme as representatives of the TEFE A+ (Teachers of English for Future Europe) project. As part of this, we prepared and led one of the four workshops titled How can tomorrow’s teachers shape the Europe we want to live in? The team, led by Mgr. Helena Lohrová, Ph.D., consisted of Mgr. Zlata Pikalová, Dany Pomyjová, Bc. Andrea Hrabíková, and Bc. Adam Tretter, supported by Bc. Adéla Vaňková and Karolína Otradovcová.
Mgr. Zlata Pikalová, representing Gymnázium Česká in České Budějovice and a graduate of our Faculty, led the part on the European identity of teachers. She shared experiences and opened a discussion on what future teachers should encounter and reflect on to become part of Europe’s educational community. Dany Pomyjová prepared the section on active citizenship, showing how young people can transform their concerns for Europe into meaningful civic engagement. Bc. Andrea Hrabíková guided the discussion and activities focused on critical thinking and open dialogue, demonstrating how teachers can model respectful disagreement and foster a culture of openness. Bc. Adam Tretter developed and delivered the part on sharing practice and building professional community, discussing how teachers across Europe can inspire one another and collaborate effectively. Additional support and team spirit during the preparation and delivery of the workshop were provided by Bc. Adéla Vaňková and Karolína Otradovcová.
The three-day programme officially began on Wednesday afternoon upon our arrival in Passau. At the International House, we were warmly welcomed by Prof. Dr Christina Hansen, Vice President for International Affairs and Diversity, together with Christine Dietrich and Karina Blommen from the Charlemagne Prize team. After a short informal introduction among the participants, the official opening ceremony began. Prof. Dr Hansen delivered an encouraging and inspiring speech that set the tone for the days ahead.
Thursday opened with welcoming remarks from Prof. Dr Hansen and Dr Jürgen Linden. Dr Linden focused particularly on the role of young people in shaping Europe’s future, emphasising that active youth participation is essential for Europe’s continued democratic development.
One of the highlights of the morning was the keynote lecture by Simon Usifo, CEO of BBDO Germany. His openness and honesty were profoundly inspiring. He challenged conventional ideas of leadership, emphasising that authority does not stem from toughness or dominance but from empathy and emotional intelligence. When he spoke about his experiences as a mixed-race person growing up in Germany, his reflections carried even greater weight and authenticity.
The keynote was followed by a series of parallel workshops – including the TEFE A+ session led by our team. Participants could choose from four thematic workshops:
- New Values for Gen Z Europe? Art. 2 Treaty on European Union Reconsidered (Prof. Dr Jörg Fedtke);
- Connected Europe – Digital Activism in the European Union (Prof. Dr Inken Heldt and Silvia Haider);
- Normative Power Europe or Eurocentrism? Debating Europe’s Value-Oriented Approach in Politics (Prof. Dr Andreas Eberth);
- and our TEFE A+ workshop, focusing on how future teachers can shape the Europe they want to live in.
Discussions within the individual groups offered insights into Europe’s future from legal, political, societal, value-oriented, and educational perspectives, and helped identify concrete ways in which young people can actively contribute to a sustainable and democratic Europe.
The afternoon plenary session then brought together all results and provided a space to create a shared vision based on the insights gathered throughout the day.
In the evening, we had the unique opportunity to present the outcomes of our work to the public during the event Courageous Women for Freedom and Democracy at Mediengruppe Bayern. The programme included an interview with Yulia Navalnaya and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, both recipients of this year’s MiE Award. Hearing their testimonies in person prompted us to reflect deeply on the situation in Europe. It was both emotional and instructive to witness the real impact that democratic engagement — and the absence of it — can have.
On Friday, the programme concluded with a pleasant guided walk through Passau’s historic old town. After several days of working and talking together, the walk offered a relaxed space for Charlemagne Prize winners and other participants to continue conversations and strengthen the connections formed during the programme. The tour finished at the university cafeteria, where we collected our packed lunches, said our goodbyes, and exchanged a few final impressions before returning to our home countries.
Looking back, Shaping Europe’s Future was far more than just another programme — it was a meaningful exchange of ideas and a powerful reminder of the importance of remaining engaged. We left Passau more connected, better informed, and deeply motivated. Above all, we returned with the conviction that the voices of young Europeans genuinely matter in shaping the Europe in which we wish to live. We extend our sincere thanks to both the University of Passau and the University of South Bohemia for enabling our participation and supporting opportunities that empower students to actively contribute to Europe’s future.
An Inspiring Evening in Mediengruppe Bayern: Meeting Yulia Navalnaya and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
As part of the international Shaping Europe’s Future event hosted by the University of Passau, we had the exceptional opportunity to attend the evening programme “Courageous Women for Freedom and Democracy” at Mediengruppe Bayern on 27 November 2025. Thanks to the generous support of the University of Passau and the University of South Bohemia, we experienced an evening that left a profound and lasting impression on us. Upon arrival, the modern and professional atmosphere of the venue immediately underscored the significance of the occasion. The programme opened with Yulia Navalnaya, a leading figure of the Russian opposition, and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader, whose entrance accompanied by live music stirred strong emotions in the audience. They were warmly welcomed by Angelika Diekmann, publisher and founder of Menschen in Europa, followed by an address from Dr Jürgen Linden, Chairman of the Board of the Charlemagne Prize.
Three representatives of the Charlemagne Youth Prize Network – students who had collaborated with us earlier that day at the University of Passau – were then invited on stage. In a short interview with Dr Linden, they presented the outcomes of our daytime programme and the themes we explored together. Seeing our joint work shared with such a wide audience was both inspiring and motivating.
The highlight of the evening was a panel discussion moderated by Theo Koll, journalist and former head of ZDF’s Berlin bureau. His conversation with Navalnaya and Tsikhanouskaya was powerful and sincere, reminding us of the continuing necessity to defend democratic values. Their stories offered a vivid illustration of what courage means in practice. The programme also featured the ceremonial presentation of the MiE Award, introduced by Prof Dr h.c. Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Board of the Munich Security Conference Foundation (MSC). The award ceremony, accompanied once again by live music, added to the solemn atmosphere of the evening.
Following the official part, guests were invited to a formal reception, which provided an opportunity for informal conversations and personal encounters with the award recipients, representatives of Menschen in Europa, and members of the Charlemagne Youth Prize Network. For our TEFE A+ group, the most memorable moment of the evening was a personal meeting with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Her warmth, openness and – to our surprise – her awareness of the current political situation in the Czech Republic left a deep impression on us. It was an encounter we will all remember for a long time.
This evening was not merely an addition to our programme, but a meaningful experience that enriched our entire stay in Passau. We are grateful to the University of Passau and the University of South Bohemia for the opportunity to take part in an event dedicated to courage, democracy, and the values on which Europe’s future should stand.
