EUforIA Switzerland launched its first event

EUforIA Switzerland held its first event on November 23rd 2007 at the University of Bern to discuss -What can YOUth contribute to the solution of global challenges?!- The get-together was hosted by the Schweizerische Studienstiftung (www.studienstiftung.ch) and drew 35 students from all across Switzerland. The participants included, among others, the youngest parliamentary representative of the canton of Bern and the United Nations Youth Representative of 2006 - 2007.

Raphael Jerónimo Calderón and Mileva Demenga from EUforIA Switzerland, introduced the attending students to the ideas, strategies and plans of EUforIA and managed to incite 30 out of the 35 students to sign up for their newsletter.

Other Featured speakers where Marianne Hochuli from the Berne Declaration (Erklaerung von Bern www.evb.ch) and Martin Keller from Initiative for Intercultural Learning (www.ifil.ch) who presented their work, shared their experience and offered advice. Furthermore they addressed the main question of what YOUth could contribute in short speeches.

The change starts here, with you and me, and it must start today,- explained Marianne Hochuli, -the way we live, what we consume, how we hold our businesses accountable for their engagements abroad, what we ask our politicians to do, and so on, it is our task to become responsible for our actions and the world we live in.-

EUforIA s president, Raphael Jerónimo Calderón, explained the main ideas, -It is about the way we perceive the world, in terms of despair, ignorance and disillusion, or in terms of hope, complexity and opportunities. We have to change the logic that dominates our mind, see challenges where others see problems and show our generation that we can now contribute an important part to the solution of global challenges!-

Martin Keller added, -Taking up global challenges requires after all one thing: a constant ability to learn and motivate oneself... If we are not taking positive action whilst we are still young, then when?-

By broadening the horizons of today's students and sensitizing them for global issues, we are having an impact on the future decision takers in business and politics of tomorrow,- concluded Mileva Demenga.

Leaving a lasting impression on the motivated and inspired young people, the event ended with an animated discussion between the speakers and the public.