Political Youth Academy

About the event

This event will serve as a valuable forum for exchanging best practices and experiences of young individuals working within the promotion of liberal values and democracy from across the world. Participants are encouraged to bring forward challenges and solutions to problems their respective country faces, allowing for a shared space of collaboration. Youth political leaders from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Northern Africa, and Latin America will attend this event, creating a unique opportunity to strengthen international relations between liberal youth organizations and explore solutions to pressing issues.

Program

Thursday, November 20^th

Arrival of Participants

Best Western Hotel Savoy, Västra Torggatan 1

652 25 Karlstad, Sweden

19:00-21:00 Welcoming networking dinner

Restaurant Pinchos, Västra Torggatan 1

Welcoming remarks by ELF, LYMEC, LUF and SILC

November 21^st

09:00 Introductory Remarks

Location – Nöjesfabriken, Karlstad

Welcome by Violetta Pashutina, ELF Board Member and Per Olsson, Secretary General of SILC

09:30 From youth politics to the political arena – best practice sharing session

With Bàlint Gyévai (ELF) and Dan-Aria Sucuri (SILC Board)

10:15 Youth Turning Away from Politics: LUF’s Approach to Sweden’s Democratic Challenges

Speaker: Carl-Johan Bonde, LUF

Polarization in Sweden
LUFs stance on Tidö
Case study: University Liberal

11:00 Coffee Break

11:30 The fight against Orban, how does youth navigate the political development while also growing in politics?

Speaker: Ruben Friewald, TizenX, Hungary

Understanding Viktor Orban’s Regime and authoritarian tendencies
Challenges faced by politically active youth
Case study: Budapest Pride and liberals defending European values

12:30 Lunch at venue

14:00 Youth protecting liberal values in Ukraine during the war

Speaker: TBA

The vital importance of youth involvement within politics in Ukraine and how they will uphold the pillars of democracy

Youth leadership of politics at the local, regional, and national level
Growing youth activism in Ukraine – how to engage activists into politics?
Case study: Summer 2025 protests, how youth organized to oppose the law which opposed European integration

15:00 Coffee Break

15:30 Peer-to-Peer Challenge Workshop

Led by Dan-Aria Sucuri
Participants from each country are invited to present one key challenge or problem their youth organization is currently facing. The group will then work together in a roundtable format, sharing perspectives, strategies, and potential solutions from their own contexts. The outcome will be a collection of practical ideas and cross-country insights that each participant can bring back and adapt to their organization.

17:00 Dinner and bowling at the Venue

Nöjesfabriken