Activities
Upcoming Activities
The shelter we seek - a critical reflection on church as safer space | 2024
In this international activity we want to take a close look on especially hurtful experiences made in church. We want to discover the roots of this hurt and how we can bring about change to take the responsibility to not take hurt and discrimination as inevitable facts of human life and church life. The activity offers 20 spots for participants from different backgrounds. The venue will be announced in spring 2024. Applications will start in spring 2024 as well.
Past Activities
The shelter we seek - a critical reflection on church as safer space | 2024
In this event, we will closely examine particularly painful incidents that occur within the church. Our aim is to identify the causes of such hurt and explore how we can take responsibility for changing the way we view hurt and discrimination in both human and church life. The event welcomes 20 participants from diverse backgrounds. The location will be revealed in spring 2024, and applications will open in the same season. For now, we are […] Read on →
Of Course We Can | 2019
This event was held in Strasbourg, France on March 2019. A report of the event can be found below. Read on →
Role of Churches in a Modern Society | 2017
EYCE training course “Role of Churches in Modern Society” took place from 6th -13th August 2017 in Palermo, Italy. The event gathered together twenty young Christians from Armenia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lebanon and Romania. The participants represented also a variety of denominations including Baptist, Lutheran, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Reformed, United and Waldencian. The diversity of the backgrounds of the participants offered the event an excellent starting point […] Read on →
Let's talk about sexuality | 2016
32 participants representing 20 different countries spent a week together for the Study Session “Let’s talk about sexuality: The Explosive Power of Taboo Subjects” at the European Youth Centre in Budapest between 9th and 14th of May 2016. The Study Session gathered people from diverse backgrounds creating intercultural and ecumenical environment where everyone had a chance to express their opinion in a safe space. Creating a safe space had an important role as the topic […] Read on →
People in Poverty: Part of a Bigger Picture? | 2016
From 21st to 28th August, 18 young people from all around Europe and from different religious and educational backgrounds gathered for the training course “People in Poverty: Part of a Bigger Picture?” which took place in Lisbon, Portugal. It was organized by EYCE with help of 6 volunteers and supported by the Council of Europe, Brot für die Welt and Otto per Mille. The main objectives of this week were to explore different methods of […] Read on →
Personal Integrity and Good Leadership | 2016
Respect, integrity, communication, charism, responsibility… A good leader has a lot of different qualities. It was the purpose of the training course in Vilnius, Lithuania from 14th to 20th of November 2016. 16 people from different countries were present and reunited to exchange and work on subjects like the leadership and the integrity. The aim of this training course was to encourage them to discover what is the meaning of these two subjects but also […] Read on →
Theology of Migration | 2017
EYCE training course “Theology of Migration: Young people develop a common theology of migration” in frame of #WeAreEurope! Campaign took place from 4th – 11th June in Stockholm, Sweden. In total there were 21 participants that came from different countries in Europe, also outside of Europe e.g. Lebanon and Armenia. In addition to participants coming from different denominational backgrounds, there were also two participants with Muslim background which enriched the group and the discussions, as […] Read on →
Cut the Prejudice | 2016
“To have the interreligious dialogue today is mainly important for keeping peaceful coexistence between different people within one single society. And society of today’s Europe, of today’s world tends to be a globalised society when people are meeting, people are moving. And this process of globalisation of society probably comes much more faster, much more quickly than the human’s’ perception of the society can be developed” says Ivan Kuks, participant in the training course “Cut […] Read on →
From Vision to Reality | 2015
“I feel more empowered after the training course, as a result of having to play so many roles of the excluded people” says Nite Pallaska, participant in the seminar “From Vision to Reality!”. From 22nd to 29th of March 2015, 17 young people from different cultural, religious and geographic backgrounds gathered for the seminar “From Vision to Reality: Young people developing models of inclusive participation”, which took place in AGAPE Svaty Jur, Slovakia. It […] Read on →
Faces of Poverty | 2015
From 6th to 13th of September 2015, 17 young people, from all around Europe and from different religious and educational backgrounds, gathered for the training course “Faces of Poverty: training course addressing poverty in the context of migration” which took place in Manchester, United Kingdom. It was organized by EYCE with the help of 4 volunteers and supported by the Council of Europe and Brot für die Welt. The main objectives of this week were […] Read on →
Looking for a Brighter Future | 2014
A training course for young people on solidarity in Europe. The training course “Looking for a Brighter Future! A training course for young people on solidarity in Europe” took place in Ecumenical Centre Los Rubios in Malaga, Spain from 19/01/2014 – 26/01/2014. It brought together 31 participants, team members and experts. The participants came from 17 different countries, among them Georgia and Lebanon. There were 20 female and 11 male participants. In addition to Christian […] Read on →
Food, Land and Water | 2014
A training course to promote fair distribution of natural resources in the framework of ecological justice The EYCE training course “Food, Land and Water” was held in Dresden, Germany, from the 26th of October – 2nd of November 2014. The venue, fittingly to the theme, was a YMCA Youth Ship located by the river Elbe. The training course brought together young people interested and educated in environmental topics in order to offer new insights and […] Read on →
Poverty Exposed | 2014
A training course to challenge the patterns of poverty EYCE training course “Poverty Exposed: A training course to challenge the patterns of poverty” took place from 4th – 11th May in Sofia, Bulgaria. It brought together 28 participants, team members and experts. The participants came from 13 different countries, among them Lebanon and Nigeria. There were 13 female and 15 male participants. In addition to Christian participants, there were also two participants from a Jewish […] Read on →
Say NO to Hate!| 2014
Young people addressing hate speech from interreligious perspective “In a time of increased conflict around the world, it was refreshing to spend time with admirable young people from different faiths, beliefs and backgrounds who will be valuable assets to our society. It confirms my belief once again that the problem lies with our political leaders & not between religious believers. I pray we will grow to be more open, tolerant and exemplary members of society. […] Read on →
Be the Generation of Peace! | 2013
We want to be the generation of peace! This summer, EYCE gathered young people from all over Europe for the seminar “Be the Generation of Peace! A seminar for young Europeans to enhance the participation and contribution of young people to peace processes”. This seminar took place in Novi Sad, Serbia, from the 18th to the 25th of August. During this seminar, thirty young people, actively engaged in their communities and coming […] Read on →
Gender Revised!? | 2012
Christian youth in Europe gathers to discuss gender issues From 11th – 18th of November 2012 Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe (EYCE) in cooperation with World Student Christian Federation Europe (WSCF-E) conducted a study session “Gender: Revised?!” The study session took place in European Youth Centre Budapest, Hungary and gathered 26 young people from 19 countries to discuss different aspects of gender and its perception in modern society with emphasis on theological reflection and […] Read on →
Acting Together to Overcome Poverty! | 2012
Young people address social injustice through interreligious cooperation From the 2nd to the 9th of September, 2012 more than twenty-five young people from various beliefs and from across Europe and further abroad gathered in Paris, France for the celebration of a Jubilee of cooperation between Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe (EYCE) and Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO), as a closing of the training course led on“Acting Together to Overcome Poverty.” […] Read on →
Taking Steps Towards Ecologically Responsible Society | 2012
Young people gather to discuss ecological justice! From 24th June to 1st July 2012 more than twenty young people from Europe and beyond, as well as from various denominational and national backgrounds gathered in Minsk, Belarus, for an EYCE training course “Taking steps towards an ecologically responsible society. Economic and political aspects of ecological justice.” The participants got the opportunity to further develop their knowledge of different aspects of ecological justice and acquire practical tools and […] Read on →
Human Rights for Everyone |2011
A training course for young Europeans to overcome racism and discrimination against ethnic minorities The training course took place from 18th to 25th of March in Palermo, Italy and aimed at empowering young Europeans with knowledge and skills to overcome racism and discrimination against ethnic minorities. It brought together 30 participants (age 18-35) and team members from all over Europe and from various cultural and denominational backgrounds. The training course was prepared and […] Read on →
Secularism and Religions | 2011
European Christian and Muslim Youth show a good example of interreligious dialogue and dialogue with secularism From 4th December to 11th December 2011 thirty five young people from Europe and beyond, Christians and Muslims, from different traditions and national backgrounds gathered in the European Youth Centre Budapest, Hungary, for an Interreligious Study Session “Secularism and Religions: Working Together for a Common Europe” which was organised by the Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe (EYCE) and […] Read on →
Learn. Engage. Lead. | 2011
A Step by Step Ecumenical Leadership Training for Young Europeans. From 27th February to 6th March 2011 more than twenty young people from various denominational and national backgrounds gathered in Kandersteg and Geneva, Switzerland for an EYCE training course “Learn. Engage. Lead. A Step by Step Ecumenical Leadership Training for Young Europeans”. The participants got the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the Ecumenical movement and to broaden their leadership skills and share the experiences […] Read on →
Taking steps towards an ecologically responsible society | 2011
Theological and political perspectives of ecological justice. From 3rd July to 10th July 2011 more than twenty young people from Europe and beyond, as well as from various denominational and national backgrounds gathered in Kiev, Ukraine, for an EYCE training course “Taking steps towards an ecologically responsible society. Theological and political perspectives of ecological justice”. The participants got the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of various aspects of ecological justice and acquire practical tools and […] Read on →
Facing the Economic Crisis | 2010
Role and possibilities of youth organisations Educational projects for Roma minority, projects addressing youth and senior employment, youth exchange featuring intercultural dialogue, projects with orphans and ideas on how to raise the economically positive thinking in Iceland were among many of the creative ideas discussed during the EYCE summer event on economic justice. The EYCE summer training “Facing the Economic Crisis – role and possibilities of youth organisations” took place from 1st – 8th of […] Read on →
Climate Justice Now! | 2010
Raising awareness of the complex topic of climate justice, its causes and consequences and the responsibility of humankind towards creation are the issues tackled by a statement, which was developed and adopted by the participants of the EYCE and WSCF-E study session “Climate Justice Now!”, which took place from 12th – 18th of September 2010 in the European Youth Centre, Strasbourg, France. The study session was organised in cooperation with the World Student Christian Federation […] Read on →
Fundamentalist or Responsible Citizen? | 2010
“Our aim was to propose ways, in which young religious European citizens can take a more active role in fulfilling their duties towards society as a whole”, declare the participants of the conference “Fundamentalist of Responsible Citizen? Contribution of religious communities to formation of European citizens” in their final statement. The conference was held from 28th November to 5th December 2010 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and brought together more than 50 young Europeans from […] Read on →
Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue | 2009
Human rights education in the field of economic justice In the first week of spring 2009, 35 young people gathered in the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg to explore the links between economic justice and human rights. The aim of the study session was to promote social cohesion among young people through developing a concept of Human Rights which takes the perspective of Economic Justice into consideration, and thereby raising their awareness and promote action […] Read on →
Religions in the Media | 2008
Promoting Inter-Cultural Learning and Youth Participation, and Overcoming Stereotypes. Christian, Muslim and Jewish young people from 18 European countries gathered in the European Youth Centre Budapest from 9th to 16th of November 2008 to promote inter-cultural learning, youth participation and overcoming stereotypes at the study session organised by the Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe. The aim of the Study Session was to explore the role and potential of different types of media in overcoming differences, […] Read on →
Monologue or Dialogue? | 2007
Inter-religious dialogue meets fundamentalism 32 participants from Europe and Middle East coming from Christian and Muslim backgrounds gathered from the 9th to the 16th of December, 2007 in Volos, Greece, for the seminar “Monologue or Dialogue? Inter-religious dialogue meets fundamentalism”. The event, organised by EYCE in cooperation with the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO), was kindly hosted by the Volos Academy for Theological […] Read on →