1. AEGEE educates young people on mediation and conflict resolution techniques in order to facilitate constructive dialogue.

Education plays an important role in preventing and addressing situations of conflict. Through education, we can provide young people with tools and techniques for understanding other points of view, giving each side a voice and preventing a one-sided approach towards specific conflicts. Young Europeans can use these tools and techniques for both mediation of societal conflicts and for educating others. AEGEE as a diverse group of proactive young people is especially equipped to form an empowered pool of advocates that promote constructive dialogue on topics such as the Russo-Ukrainian war and extremism. To achieve this, AEGEE can benefit from forming partnerships with other organisations and actors experienced and knowledgeable in these topics.

2. AEGEEans raise awareness about regional differences and political landscapes that build barriers between different regions in Europe with the aim of fostering integration and mutual understanding.

Europe is rich in traditions and cultures, which have contributed to shaping the political landscape of Europe. These traditions and cultures affect the views we have towards a unified and united Europe. We should be aware of our differences as well as their historical backgrounds especially because the political landscape in Europe does not always allow for embracing diversity. Rather than seeing diversity as an asset, others may see it as a basis for polarisation, discrimination and introducing other barriers to European social, political and economic integration. Awareness towards these differences and political approaches that affect European integration will encourage young Europeans to lead constructive dialogues and strive for mutual understanding and bring upon societal and political change. It is important to create collaborations and involve stakeholders with expertise about the regional differences between various parts of Europe.

3. AEGEEans highlight causes for radical movements and the impact they have on intensifying societal conflicts.

A lack of peaceful dialogue may lead to societal conflicts where hate speech, discrimination, racism and little to no tolerance are the norm. Nowadays, radical movements, including radical nationalism, are posing threats to European democracy, solidarity and integration. As an organisation that strives for a democratic, diverse and borderless Europe, we need to put our vision and mission into action. In order to take first steps to address the impact of radical movements and their historical roots on intensifying societal conflicts, we must increase awareness among young people. This can be done through round table discussions, workshops and informative seminars that showcase examples of radical movements, explain their historical roots and underline their polarising effect on society.

4. AEGEE facilitates a space for civic dialogue to break down stereotypes and eradicate prejudice against ethnic, national and religious minorities.

Prejudice and stereotypes are the main drivers of societal conflicts. In many places around the world, unresolved tensions, often caused by false and unconscious beliefs directed toward ethnic, national or religious minority groups, have the potential of escalating into violent acts such as hate crimes, terrorism, civil war or other armed conflicts. Raising awareness about these issues including their historical origins and providing a space where members of opposite groups can meet and engage in a peaceful and constructive dialogue could contribute to dismantling existing stereotypes. In this context, facilitating a space for discussion to increase the mutual understanding of the identity of these communities should be at the core of AEGEE’s mission to build bridges of dialogue.

1. AEGEE enables young people to participate in and contribute to a safe and inclusive digital environment.

The rising use of online tools and media increases the risk of exposing sensitive information or becoming a victim of cyberbullying and discrimination. AEGEE strives for a world, both online and offline, where everybody’s personal privacy and safety are respected, and has experience with protecting these values. By organising initiatives and collaborating with other organisations working on data privacy and social equity, AEGEE helps young people to learn about threats to digital safety and inclusivity, and to create safe digital spaces.

2. AEGEEans reduce the digital divide in society by enhancing the competences of young people with the goal of easing their transition to the job market in the digital era.

There is a digital divide which consists of three levels: (1) digital access, (2) skills and usage, and (3) outcomes. These levels affect the way groups in society are able to catch up with digitalisation. This digital divide further amplifies existing social inequalities. With 90% of jobs nowadays having a digital component, not having digital skills hinders opportunities to enter the job market. Not everyone is aware of the inequalities that exist related to the digital domain, and the bigger differences that exist between genders and regions. As AEGEE strives to create an equal society in which everyone can participate, its aim is to help reduce this digital divide. This can be done through providing opportunities for sharing knowledge and enhancing the needed skills. As a result, young people, especially underprivileged groups, should be able to translate their access to the internet and use of skills into positive gains and outcomes. AEGEE hereby contributes to addressing the second and third level of the digital divide with the goal of ensuring similar opportunities for everyone.

3. AEGEE empowers young people to improve access to digital participatory tools and use them for actively participating in politics and society and expressing their opinion in an informed and responsible manner.

Even though youth are the leaders of the future, their active participation in society and politics remain at a low level. Increasing youth engagement in politics and society as well as ensuring that the opinions of youth are represented can be facilitated by digital participatory tools. AEGEE can play a role in activating young people and make them more aware of the options they have for obtaining useful information, voicing their opinions, participating in and deciding on topics that affect their future. This can be achieved by guiding them towards and educating them on the availability of digital tools. If these tools are not available, AEGEEans should organise campaigns and advocate to make sure that these tools are available. As a European network, AEGEE can utilise their reach and means and share their local experiences in using these tools to increase youth participation in society.

4. AEGEE enhances the ability of young people to critically evaluate and use information found in digital spaces as well as to create meaningful and responsible digital content.

The development of technology in artificial intelligence, social media algorithms, and deep fake technology have made digital spaces one of the most difficult environments to evaluate the quality and integrity of information that is found there. Hence there is a necessity for young people to be able to think critically and increase their media literacy. Increasing media literacy can help young people to improve their ability to voice their opinions with accountability. Additionally, considering the risks native to the digital landscape, it is needed to create respectful and inclusive content which is accessible for everyone. AEGEE can support this by using its collective and acquired knowledge and its reach as a network.

1. AEGEE fosters systemic understanding of planetary boundaries among young people.

While many young people are aware of the climate crisis, other environmental crises are less well-known. In order to address the current environmental crises, an understanding of the planetary boundaries and their underlying natural processes is needed. Through organising workshops and providing access to information, we can create a holistic understanding among young people. Once young people understand the working of Earth’s systems, they can propose and advocate for systemic solutions to these environmental crises. Through AEGEE’s wide reach and interdisciplinary nature, we can bring complex concepts such as systems thinking and the planetary boundaries to a wider audience and discuss these from multiple perspectives.

2. AEGEE helps young Europeans to critically understand how economic structures must change to stay within planetary boundaries.

Current economic structures contribute to the crossing of multiple planetary boundaries. For example, increasing consumption driven by economic growth leads to increased extraction of natural resources, more pollution and rapid conversion of natural ecosystems. In the interest of preserving a habitable Earth for future generations, it is important for economic structures to change so that planetary boundaries are respected. To help shape this change, AEGEE has to educate young Europeans on how economic structures work and how they currently lead to the crossing of multiple planetary boundaries, and how these structures must evolve to stay within planetary limits. By using the existing knowledge and expertise of the Network as well as cooperating with relevant stakeholders and experts, AEGEEans will be able to contribute to a better understanding of the need and possibilities to change economic structures.

3. AEGEE advocates for prioritising social and environmental well-being over economic growth.

Economic progress is currently measured as an increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but this measurement does not represent social or environmental well-being. It is assumed that if the economy grows, everyone will benefit, through for example a raised standard of living. However, this is not the case, even in highly developed countries. The focus on solely economic growth has created a situation where planetary boundaries are being exceeded while human needs are not met. As an organisation representing young people, whose future depends on a healthy habitable planet and a society that provides for all, AEGEE should encourage policy-and decision makers to prioritise an economy that serves the people and planet rather than economic growth. AEGEEans can promote sustainable economic indexes and frameworks that measure social and environmental progress, such as the Sustainable Development Index, and Doughnut Economics, to emphasise that economic progress is not about growing the economy, but about increasing the wellbeing of people and the planet.

4. AEGEE provides opportunities for young Europeans to learn how to ensure inclusion in the sustainable transition, especially of less privileged groups.

Various groups of people are currently being excluded from the sustainable transition for different reasons. For example, sustainable options are often more expensive, take more time or require more effort, and vulnerable groups such as tenants often have little influence on sustainability in their surroundings. This prevents them from taking decisions in line with environmental sustainability. So far AEGEE has not had a focus on the topic of how we can increase inclusion in this transition towards a more eco-responsible society. That is why we need to develop an expanded understanding of access, affordability and opportunity in the sustainable transition and what role social and economic policies can play in this. Once we have an understanding of their role, we can advocate for social and economic structures that enable people, especially less privileged groups, to make decisions in line with environmental sustainability. We can do this by cooperating with other NGOs, who are already knowledgeable about the topic of inclusivity in the sustainable transition. AEGEE aims to use this knowledge in the future to advocate for a more inclusive sustainable transition.