Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2024 awarded Lithuania’s campaign against violence, France’s youth empowerment platform, and Germany’s visual journalism initiative. The prize celebrates youth-driven projects promoting democracy and European identity.
Today, the European Parliament and the International Charlemagne Prize Foundation announced the 2024 European Charlemagne Youth Prize in a ceremony in Aachen. Lithuanian campaign to fight violence against women, the French platform to empower young people, and German visual journalism in Europe are prizewinners of the 2024 prize.
How does “Sisterhood Pathways” contribute to combating violence against women?
According to the European Parliament, the first prize of €7,500 was awarded to “Sisterhood Pathways” from Lithuania – a multifaceted campaign to increase awareness and fight violence against women in the Baltic Sea region. It utilises wall painting, handbooks, workshops, webinars and social media drives for community engagement and to deliver information about containing violence against women and supporting victims.
What are the objectives of the French platform for empowering young people?
A second prize (€5,000) was given to the French platform to entrust youth “Think, act and advocate together to leave no young people behind”. The project strived to mobilise European young people from underprivileged backgrounds. For over two years, the project collected one hundred young people from over ten European nations who have experienced deprivation and exclusion. They met regularly to reflect on and examine the unfair situations they experience daily.
How does the German online magazine promote an understanding of Europe’s diversity?
A third prize (€2,500) uplift by an online European Magazine from Germany, which envisions Europe’s diversity via infographics, maps, and statistics, delivering clarity and accessibility, to make it easier to comprehend Europe. Instead of lengthy texts, the magazine operates visual journalism and effortlessly digestible visuals to understand politics, culture, environment, and society.
Why is the European Charlemagne Youth Prize important for European identity?
The European Charlemagne Youth Prize is an accolade that is given to youth-run schemes that support democracy in Europe and encourage cooperation and understanding both in Europe and internationally. It emphasises the daily work of young people in maintaining a shared sense of European identity and awards their active participation in the growth of Europe.
The European Charlemagne Youth Prize, together awarded by the European Parliament and the International Charlemagne Prize Foundation, is open to endeavours by young people aged 16-30 involved in schemes that strengthen democracy and sustain active participation.
Since 2008, 5,866 projects have contended for the prize. Every year, national and European juries choose a project from each EU nation. 27 national winners were asked to the award ceremony in Aachen on 7 May 2024, where the three EU winners were declared.
