In addition to building young people's knowledge and promoting their participation, inspiring them is the eternal question

Eveliina went on her first youth exchange a decade ago and got addicted to opportunities for young people's international participation. While Eveliina is grateful for her experiences, she is concerned over the availability of youth-friendly information and the division of young people into active participants and those who are more difficult to reach.

Interest in theatre opened doors to Europe and Eveliina’s eyes to the world

“I participated in my first youth exchange at the age of 13. When they asked me in English how old I was, I used my fingers to indicate the answer. I could remember how to spell thirteen, but I was not brave enough to try and pronounce the word. I think of this development as a ladder or a staircase. When you had been on one exchange, you had the courage to go for the following one, then you were brave enough to go on your own for the first time, and now I have completed my university studies abroad. I have always found courage for the next and slightly bigger adventure.”

This description comes from Eveliina, whose enthusiasm has carried her to as many as four youth exchanges and two Youth Initiative projects, a twin towns trip, a period of volunteering and EuroPeer training. She also completed her Bachelor's degree in the United Kingdom.

At the age of five, Eveliina joined a drama group at Loimaa Theatre. Since 2011, all youth exchanges and initiatives in which she has participated have been organised by Loimaa Theatre, with the exception of one. The theatre has always been the common denominator. The destinations have been Ireland several times and Austria once. Some of the activities have taken place in Finland, and Eveliina also went to a twinning project camp in Denmark.

Eveliina no longer remembers if the initiative to take part in the first youth exchange originally came from her. However, one good experience was always followed by the next. Broadening her horizons became addictive.

“It’s kind of addictive. I come from Loimaa, which is not a particularly international place. These projects have opened my eyes to see that there are other things in the world. They have introduced me to internationalisation and encouraged me to learn languages. This is why I have taken every chance to share information about mobility opportunities and my personal experiences. For example, if someone tells me that they are taking a gap year, I also promote these opportunities to my friends and people I hardly know!”

Sometimes the opportunities have come just at the right moment in Eveliina’s life.

“After general upper secondary school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I wanted to take a gap year. I volunteered in Grenoble in the French Alps. It was exactly what I needed at that point. The EuroPeer training, on the other hand, I found myself on the Internet. It was something of a sudden notion and I did not think I would get picked at first", Eveliina recalls.

Eveliina still remembers the body percussion she learned in a dance workshop themed on sexual health on her first youth exchange. The youth exchanges and Youth Initiative projects have included countless activities: shows, various workshops and forms of theatre, getting to know other cultures through food and music, or sometimes a surprise activity, such as kayaking, climbing or rugby.

Sometimes her feelings have been mixed.

"The first youth initiative trip was one of my best and worst experiences. We went to a great Irish boarding school, a combination of a super modern school and Hogwarts. But we were a theatre group and they were pupils in a Catholic boys’ school, so maybe we did not click so well. They were athletes and only interested in rugby. Well, we ended up doing a play about rugby.”

The eternal challenge of inspiring and the pain of boring information

The fourth European Youth Goal, Information and constructive dialogue, calls for young people to have access to reliable and youth-friendly information and support for their ability to evaluate information critically and engage in constructive dialogue. The ninth Youth Goal, “Space and participation for all', adds to this the demand for safe and accessible physical and virtual spaces for young people. The facilities should guarantee possibilities for democratic participation for all young people with different backgrounds and in all decision-making processes.

Eveliina, too, sees room for improvement in young people's access to spaces and opportunities as well as information about them. She also reflects on the problem of young people being divided into those who participate and those who do not know about or have no interest in the opportunities for participation.

“You often involve those who are already participating. If you get your foot in once, it’s easy to take the next step. But all these European opportunities are kind of hidden. When I tell people about them, they often have no idea what I’m talking about. And even if they did, can they find a project, or will there be one close to where they live? It’s easier to reach young people through education, but how about those who are working or doing something else?”

On the other hand, Eveliina recognises young people’s need to be encouraged and inspired.

“Even if I am 23 already, I feel I’m too young, I’m not part of the adult world. They sometimes make things sound really difficult when they explain them, and things that sound difficult are not very interesting, either. Participation as a concept is broad and a bit boring. Yeah, come and participate and exert influence, but on what? The information should be more focused on the actual issues, and the issues should also be important for young people.”

Eveliina finds that setting European Youth Goals is a good sign, but she wonders if they will remain empty words.

“On the other hand, I have been able to take part in so many things and it has been great. They have been really concrete opportunities, so why shouldn’t we also be able to achieve these goals in concrete terms?” Eveliina concludes, leaning on the side of hope.

Updated on Antradienis, 17/02/2026