The Young Changemakers’ Academy is a dynamic programme and a vibrant platform where your journey as a changemaker begins!
About the event
The Young Changemakers’ Academy is a dynamic programme and a vibrant platform where your journey as a changemaker begins!
The aim is to prepare young people to take an active part in their respective communities through focused engagement in key policy areas. You will have the chance to participate in three in-person events and benefit from networking support to connect with other young people, YCA Alumni and senior political figures from all over Europe with similar interests and objectives.
The Young Changemakers Academy is organised by the European Liberal Forum (ELF) with the support of LYMEC (European Liberal Youth) and our partners.
Do you feel passionate about a cause? Do you have an idea for a project? Become part of a community dedicated to political advocacy, innovation, and creating a lasting impact. Make change happen!
Event I – ”Craft your Vision”
Friday 20 March to Sunday 22 March – Athens, Greece
The first event will include an introduction to the Academy along with a presentation of the participants’ respective advocacy causes and personal development plans. YCA Alumni from previous cohorts, dating back to the Academy’s launch in 2018, will share their journeys and offer valuable insights into how they successfully advanced their causes. Participants will have the chance to connect with the Alumni, learning from their experiences and applying their proven strategies. This event will also focus on social media and communication skills, creating a brand for each project and seeking how to communicate it through a clear strategy.
By the end of this first seminar, participants will:
● Set their learning objectives and present a clear development plan for their projects;
● Have a clear idea of the communication tools and how to use them for their projects;
● Know how to make a greater impact for their causes through social media and outreach strategies;
● Benefit from direct interactions with YCA Alumni, gaining insights to apply to their projects;
● Work on their personal and project branding with the support of YCA Alumni.
Event II – “Get your voice heard”
Friday 5 June to Sunday 7 June – Budapest, Hungary
The second event offers a comprehensive programme equipping the changemakers with a toolkit for impactful advocacy. We will also touch upon fundraising, approaching stakeholders and learning how to build meaningful connections through networking. They will also have the chance to sharpen their public speaking skills.
By the end of this second seminar, participants will:
● Learn about grassroots activism and how to achieve a broader impact on youth;
● Get hands-on experience in fundraising processes;
● Refine their public speaking skills;
● Have a clear vision of the next steps in their advocacy project processes and how to make them happen – clear progress on the development plan is visible.
Event III – ‘’Building bridges: Networking and Fundraising for Stakeholder engagement’’
Friday 16 October to Sunday 18 October – Brussels, Belgium
In this final event, the participants will meet MEPs or other relevant experts in the field of their projects to increase their hands-on understanding of advocacy on an EU level. Participants will be inspired and guided to progress on their own advocacy causes, learn about activism and gain insights from both the perspective of an experienced lobbyist and someone who has experience in being lobbied. The event will end with a joint discussion about what was learned and what insights the participants gained. By the end of this seminar, participants will:
● Evaluate their experience and outcomes of their projects;
● Identify further actions and next steps for their projects beyond the Academy;
● Gain insights into democratic processes and learn how a project could get an even broader impact at a higher scale (i.e. European level);
● Have grown their network significantly with relevant European political figures and experts;
● Have an idea of how to engage MEPs and experts for a cause and manage to represent their interests at a European level.
Timeline:
● Event 1: Friday 20 March to Sunday 22 March – Athens, Greece
● Event 2: Friday 5 June to Sunday 7 June – Budapest, Hungary
● E-learning block: September (TBC) – Online
● Event 3: Friday 16 October to Sunday 18 October – Brussels, Belgium
Additional support/activities:
● The Changemakers’ Network: imagine a space where each participant is not just a member, but a key component propelling the Changemakers’ Network forward: our mission is to build an environment that mirrors the aspirations and contributions of its members. You will be invited to provide peer support to each other with your challenges/projects relating to the learning objectives of the programme.
● Mentorship Programme: this isn’t just about networking – it’s about creating powerful connections and gaining expertise from like-minded individuals who share your passion and drive for change. You will benefit from the guidance of mentors who’ve been former YCA participants and are eager to share their knowledge with you.
● Additional activities: you will have access to the LYMEC online platform and interactive sessions taking place between the second and the third event; the online platform will be used to deepen your knowledge and give you additional tools, as well as to evaluate your progress throughout the Academy (2 blocks will be foreseen).
Application criteria:
● CV (TO BE UPLOADED IN THE FORM)
● Motivation letter (TO BE UPLOADED IN THE FORM)
● Nomination letter by a LYMEC Member Organisation or IMS Steering Committee (to be sent by email to project@lymec.eu and sean@lymec.eu) ● Completing the form and replying to all the questions
● Short description (maximum 250 words) about the advocacy project the applicant is planning to work on to shape his/her future and community, with a clear European focus (IN THE FORM)
● The advocacy project idea must be original, the project of an existing organisation or platform will not be accepted. Yet, it can be an already running project if the participant takes leadership and ownership of it and there is a willingness and possibility for further development or improvement of the project during and after the Academy.
● The applicant must be between 18 and 35 years of age.
● Applicants cannot be candidates in elections (at any level of governance) before, during and 12 months after the last YCA event takes place. If this requirement can’t be met, an important participation fee will be requested!
Call for Applications:
● The YCA Programme is open to the general public, ELF staff, Members and European interlocutors under the same conditions as LYMEC MOs and IMS.
● Every LYMEC Member Organisation (MO) will be able to nominate one person as an applicant.
● Individual Members of LYMEC (IMS) can also apply by following the same application process. The nomination letter should be written by the IMS Steering Committee.
● A nomination letter signed by a representative of the MO or IMS Steering Committee should be sent by email to project@lymec.eu AND sean@lymec.eu before the deadline.
● All applications, fulfilling all specified application requirements, must be submitted by 06 February 2026 at 10h00 CET (Brussels time) through this form.
● Only 10 spots are available for this programme. Therefore, MOs are encouraged to look thoroughly for a promising participant and project in their organisation.
Evaluation criteria:
● Having a strong and preferably demonstrable interest in getting involved in youth advocacy.
● Full commitment: Participation in ALL 3 events and online sessions is required (if need be skipping other commitments), as well as proactive participation in the broader (online) course and feedback process during the whole duration of the programme. Refrain from applying if you can’t participate in-person to all the events and fulfil this requirement (the dates of the events are fixed)!
● Be an actor of change with the potential to shape the future of your given community or society.
● Work seriously on the development of an advocacy project with clear objectives defined and a development plan.
● In addition, if the number and level of quality of applications overcome our expectations, priority will be given to the applicants who show the greatest level of need for the skills hereby provided and who better pitch/present their advocacy project plan.
Participation fee: There will be no participation costs, meals and accommodation will be fully covered for the in-person components of the YCA programme.
Commitment fee: While there is no participation fee for the YCA, participants will be expected to attend the programme in full. Failure to attend a minimum of 80% of the programme, without sufficient notice and reason, will result in cancellation fees of up to €100.
Travel reimbursement: There will be travel refunds by ELF after each event to at least partially reimburse your travel expenses to and from the event location. Participants must buy their tickets and request a
reimbursement after the event. Please keep all original receipts, tickets, invoices and boarding passes. If those are missing, the travel refund cannot be processed.
Participants need to be minimum 18 years old at the start of the event. By registering for this event you agree to our updated privacy policy and understand that your personal data will be shared with the European Liberal Forum and hotels for administrative purposes. You also agree your name to appear during the online event to other participants and a broader public during live-streamed sessions.
The event is organised by the European Liberal Forum. The event received financial support from the European Parliament. The sole liability remains with the organiser. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
Events organised by European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) and ELF (European Liberal Forum) may be audio- and video-recorded as well as web-streamed. A photographer and/or a cameraman, contracted by LYMEC, may have access to the meeting room in order to take pictures and videos for communication and publication purposes. Videos and pictures taken by the photographer and/or cameraman, contracted by LYMEC, may also be published on the LYMEC website and on related social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.). They may also be used in other media and means of communication in order to pass on information about the event and activities of LYMEC. The European Liberal Forum might also use the pictures, video or audio in their communications.
***Disclaimer: By registering for this event you give your permission for LYMEC and European Liberal Forum to use your picture in their promotional campaigns and materials and communication about the event. Please make it clear in advance if you do not wish your picture to be used by LYMEC or ELF.***