Youth
The 35 participants of the EUSALP "Moving Mountains Together" summer camp enjoyed the sunny Jura Mountains last week to discuss EUSALP themes in connection with local dynamics supported by European programs linked to the EUSALP and the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.
Young people from 5 countries in the Alpine region took part in this meeting. They were aged between 18 and 30 and wanted to learn about the functioning and actions of EUSALP. These young people had different backgrounds, and this diversity was very enriching for the group's dynamic. Some wanted to better understand European programs, learn about the camp's themes, and also practice English in a setting more suited to practicing foreign languages.
During the 6 days of the "Moving Mountains Together" project, the program was built around 4 main themes: EUSALP and the youth dynamic, the local economy, climate change, and water management.
Each day, the activities were linked to these themes and allowed the young people to inform themselves and train through workshops and visits.
Several moments will certainly remain etched in the participants' memories.
During the presentation of the national groups, each delegation had the opportunity to showcase their cultural specifics and their perspective on their country. This diversity enriched the exchanges and allowed for a better understanding of our diversity.
The discussions concerning youth participation were intense and fruitful. Participants used the toolbox from the Alpine Space GAYA project to exchange views on the prejudices and obstacles related to youth participation. Sarah Persil, Vice President in charge of youth in the Bourgogne Franche Comté region, joined us to discuss her experience with the youth. She also discussed existing initiatives and new possible approaches to strengthen the inclusion and active participation of young people in decision-making processes. These exchanges highlighted the importance of combating prejudices to value the contribution of young people to society.
The debate evening on the 2030 Olympic Games was a highlight of the event. In the form of a role-playing game, the discussions allowed pro-Winter Olympics supporters and anti-Olympics activists to share their arguments. Then, six young people represented Alpine elected officials who had to decide whether or not to maintain the organization of the Olympics in France in 2030.
The various visits organized during the event aroused great interest and many questions from the young participants. They were also magnificent and unique. Tasting Comté cheese and meeting a professional cheese taster, or the Alpine horn concert given to a herd of cows by our guide Trudy, were memorable experiences. Each outing was an opportunity for the youth to inform and inspire themselves. The exchanges with the guides and local speakers allowed for a better understanding of local issues and broadened the participants' perspectives on various topics. These visits were not only educational but also strengthened the sense of community and solidarity among young people from different countries.
It was a mostly sunny day, when we arrived at the EUSALP youth summer camp after traveling for a few hours (or a bit more for some of us). We played some games including a few rounds of speed dating in order to get to know the other participants. After dinner we explored the surroundings of our hotel, and one thing became crystal clear: There were a lot of cows.
In the following days, we visited a cheese cave, talked about youth participation, got sunburned while hiking at Métabief ski resort, learned how to pitch our own projects and got to enjoy the nature at the peatland & natural park, exploring topics like local economy, climate change and water management.
In our free time we were able to connect with other people from various alpine countries. Did you know, that Čmrlji means bumblebee in Slovenian? Did you ever dance Polonaise in a pool? Or did you ever talk about Austrian liquor (“Zirbenschnaps”) while bonding in a sauna? There was even a whole evening dedicated to presenting your own culture, where the Germans showed us what “Schuhplatteln” is, the Austrians taught us Waltz, the Italians gave us insight into their secret sign language, the Slovenians told us fun facts about their chicken formed country and the French praised the holy baguette while singing the national anthem. All of these things and even more made this camp an unique experience and a great chance to get to know different cultures.
On the last day, it was hard to say goodbye to everyone, but we were all grateful for the chance of meeting each other and exploring the alpine region together. In the Future, if we want to travel somewhere in the alpine region, we definitely have enough places to sleep at.
“The summer camp provided a unique opportunity to collaborate with other young people on important issues and therefore allowing me to make a positive impact in the Alpine region and new friends along the way.” – Anna Waldl (18, Austria)
“What surprised and delighted me the most was the fact that there were no nationality-related friend groups - non at all. Instead, a very cohesive and homogeneous group of like-minded people emerged. We understood each other very well, collaborated effectively, and hopefully formed friendships that extend beyond the boundaries of this project.” – Jurin Paučič (19, Slovenia)
"It was amazing meeting so many inspiring young people, not only from my country, but from a whole 5. Together we created memories and stories that will last forever - and the best: Thanks to the camp I found myself some amazing travel buddies for many adventures to come.” – Victoria Wagner (20, Austria)
This camp was funded by the Erasmus+ program and funds from the Bourgogne Franche-Comté region.
