In 2025, the Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe brought together young people from across Europe in Vulcan, Romania, for the international activity “Being Broke Isn’t Woke: Tackling Youth Poverty”. The project explored youth poverty not as an individual failure or charitable issue, but as a question of social rights, participation, and justice.
Using non-formal education methods, simulations, discussions, creative workshops, and advocacy training, participants reflected on how poverty affects access to education, participation, dignity, and opportunities for young people across Europe. The local context and encounters with people working alongside Roma communities helped ground these discussions in lived realities and highlighted how poverty is connected to structural discrimination and unequal access to rights.
Throughout the activity, participants developed advocacy ideas, explored the work of the Council of Europe and the European Social Charter, and discussed how youth organisations and churches can become more accessible and poverty-sensitive in their work. The project also strengthened EYCE’s engagement with European advocacy processes and encouraged participants to continue addressing poverty and inclusion within their own organisations and communities.
The activity created a strong and reflective learning space where participants could exchange experiences, critically reflect on their own realities, and strengthen solidarity across borders. The project formed part of EYCE’s broader commitment to human rights, youth participation, social justice, and inclusive youth work in Europe.
Steven (General Secretary), Ronja (Austria), Milica (Serbia) and Phil (Northern Ireland)
The event was supported as International Activity
by the Council of Europe
through the European Youth Foundation
