Live

1) DiscoverEU:

“If you’re 18 and a resident in an Erasmus+ Programme country, it’s time to expand your comfort zone.” 

This is one of the few one-off projects for 18-year-olds in Europe. The application process is quite strict, and you’ll need to showcase your knowledge of probability and European history.​

But what is DiscoverEU?

You might be familiar with Interrail, the paid pass that allows you to travel across Europe. Well, guess what? If you’re selected, you can travel by train or boat for FREE across Europe for up to 7 travel days within a 1-month period! Additionally, you’ll receive a DiscoverEU European Youth Card, granting you discounts on cultural visits, sports, accommodation, and more. ​

What do you need?

Perhaps I was a bit dramatic about the application process, but it’s not that easy! To apply, you must:​

  • Be 18 during the travel period;
  • Provide a valid identity card (ID), passport, or residence card number in the online application form.​
  • Be a citizen or resident of one of the following countries:​
    • One of the Member States of the European Union, including Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), or​
    • One of the third countries associated with the Erasmus+ programme: Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, or Türkiye. ​

The challenging quiz:

Next, you’ll need to participate in a quiz (unless you apply as a group member; in that case, the group leader will take it for all of you). The quiz consists of:​

  • 5 multiple-choice questions on general knowledge about the European Union and other EU initiatives targeting young people.​
  • A subsidiary question (yes, this is where your probability knowledge comes into play). ​

For example, when I applied, they asked:​

“In this round of applications, how many candidates will have declared their intention to start the journey in June 2025?”​

I guessed 30,000 and was close enough!​

In the second round, my friend was asked:​

“In this application round, how many applicants will have declared that they would like to travel alone when submitting the application?”​

My thoughts…

I might seem a bit obvious here, but when I applied for this project in Italy, almost nobody knew about it! I’m so glad I was selected (you’ll surely see a lot of content about this trip). It’s very affordable, especially for me, because if you live in a remote region, they will also cover the cost of a flight!

Visit the site!
Discovereu

 

2) EYE – European Youth Event:

The second project I want to share with you is the EYE – European Youth Event, which brings together thousands of young people from all over the world (yes, not just Europe!) right at the heart of European democracy: Strasbourg, France. It’s an inspiring opportunity to debate, make new friends, and exchange ideas with interesting people from every corner of the globe!

This event takes place every two years and is hosted inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, as well as around the vibrant EYE Village.

Tracks & Activities

EYE offers a wide variety of hybrid and in-person activities: panels, workshops, guided tours, Q&As, and more.

The program is designed to be flexible and engaging, with three main tracks:

  • ENGAGE Track: Curious about how the European Union works? Dive into the “ENGAGE” track to expand your knowledge and discuss with real decision-makers.
  • EMPOWER Track: Want to strengthen your active citizenship skills? The “EMPOWER” track helps you build confidence and learn how to make a real impact.
  • CONNECT Track: Looking to meet people from different cultures? The “CONNECT” track is all about networking and cultural exchange.

How to Participate

As you may have already read, you can join the EYE either online or in person (although applications are currently closed). Unfortunately, I’ll be taking part online this year, since there’s no financial support provided for travel or accommodation !

Stay tuned for our experiences and content from this awesome event

Visit the site!

EYE

3) IGLYO Activist Academy – Tampere 2025:

I really hope you already know this FANTASTIC association: IGLYO – the International LGBTQI+ Youth and Student Organisation! It’s focused on LGBTQI+ activism and runs multiple projects for queer youth, as well as other marginalized communities.

One of its most exciting initiatives is the Activist Academy, a 7-day annual training program. In 2025, it’s happening from July 13–19 in Tampere, Finland!

What about the cost?

Good news: if you’re selected, accommodation and meals are fully covered, and travel costs are reimbursed up to €300 for EU participants and €350 for those outside the EU. So yes — it’s extremely accessible!

How does it work?

Here’s an overview of how the program is structured:

  1. Preparatory online sessions (logistics, accessibility, and code of conduct)
  2. Ice-breakers & introductory activities
  3. Workshops led by experts
  4. Real-life, skill-based activist tasks
  5. Presentation of your work

Who can apply?

You’re eligible if you:

  1. Are a beginner or intermediate queer activist (or want to become one)
  2. Are between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application
  3. Live in a Council of Europe member state, or in Russia,Belarus, or Kosova
  4.  Have intermediate to advanced English skills

Inclusion & Representation

“IGLYO particularly welcomes applications from underrepresented groups such as young women, trans youth, non-binary youth, intersex youth, Black and other youth of colour, ethnic minorities, refugees, migrants, sex workers, disabled and neurodivergent youth, youth living with HIV, and fat youth.

We are committed to making our events accessible and inclusive for everyone. Let us know about your accessibility needs in the application form — we’ll do our best to accommodate them.”

Visit the site!

IGLYO Activist Academy – Tampere 2025

You will surely hear more from me about these projects, so stay tuned 😉

https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/editing-wp-config-php/

Written by

Shape the conversation

Do you have anything to add to this story? Any ideas for interviews or angles we should explore? Let us know if you’d like to write a follow-up, a counterpoint, or share a similar story.