THE POWER YOU(TH)! AYUDH EUROPE'S 18TH EUROPEAN YOUTH SUMMIT!
More than 200 young people from 23 countries participated in the MA Center in Germany for AYUDH Europe's 18th Annual European Youth Summit, discussing the theme of 'The Power in You(th): Recover, Regenerate, Revive.' The summit provided an opportunity for the youth to recover from the pandemic and regenerate their passions, skills and drive to change the world for the better. Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, The Vice-Chair of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, expressed his gratitude for being able to attend the summit, two years since the COVID-19 pandemic started. The event took place with the financial support of the Erasmus+ Youth Program of the European Union. The summit also had the honor of having the Consul general of India in Frankfurt, Dr. Amit Telang, who spoke about fostering young people's resilience in the midst of the global crisis, addressing the crisis of identity, values, and communication. The summit was mentored by humanitarian leaders who discussed how mental health can be supported through educational systems, policy frameworks, and a spiritual approach to life. The youth's discussions culminated in a statement that will be disseminated to policy makers in Europe.
Sarah Aguilera, the Youth Coordinator of the summit, shared her experience, saying, "I feel that it is sometimes hard in today’s world to find a place where we can truly connect and feel empowered. This summit has been a refuge for expression, connection, and growth on so many levels. I have learned that all power resides within us and we are all entitled to make a positive change."
“I feel that it is sometimes hard in today’s world to find a place where we can truly connect and feel empowered. This summit has been a refuge for expression, connection, and growth on so many levels. I have learned that all power resides within us and we are all entitled to make a positive change.”
AYUDH Europe also had the honor of having the Consul general of India in Frankfurt, Dr. Amit Telang. Dr Telang has been the Consul General since 2020 and has graced the summit with a poignant speech on fostering young people’s resilience in the midst of the global crisis.
Despite being a diplomat and having worked as a physician, he did not just mean a crisis in a political sense or medical emergencies. He was addressing a larger sense of crisis; the crisis of identity. He set this in the context of the values we need to adopt to support each other as global citizens.
“We try to make a difference between something which is black and something which is white. What we don’t appreciate often is that there can be something in between. There is something which is gray,” he said.
“When we talk about global crises, this crisis is nothing but lack of communication. Lack of appreciation of each other’s position. And sometimes also, not being able to feel the other person’s feelings, appreciate them, and understand what is the different perspective they see, too. And that is basically the root cause when we say there is a global crisis. And that communication needs to be re-established.”
The summit was an opportunity for the youth to recover from the devastating pandemic that hit the world. Here is where they can regenerate their passions, skills, and drive to change this world and contribute to causes that benefit nature.
Swami Shubhamritananada Puri, one of the founders of AYUDH Europe, was greeted with a standing ovation before he even began his address. Youth across the continent have appreciated beyond words his mentorship and care over many years. In encouragement of their own abilities, Swamiji began a talk entitled ‘Inner Power of Youth’.
“In fact, power is a state that helps you to be happy, peaceful, and strong however challenging the external situation may be. It is something that gives you the capacity to have the right thought, to say the right word, and to do the right thing at the right time. That is power,” he said, adding that it is an experience that comes through mastery of the mind.
“A truly powerful person lives by design. Not default…. We have certain default settings in our computer, right? But life should not be lived like that. Life should be lead by design. And this is very important. To be able to live life on one’s own terms. Having a vision of life and being able to build your life around that vision.”
All across the globe, young people are forced to adapt to ever changing challenges that impact their lives, and they feel the effects of the recent events like the pandemic, even more than any other age group. During the summit, they had the chance to engage and discuss these problems and support each other to harness this power that they can use to find peace and stability within themselves.
“It was extremely important after two years of COVID-19 to enable youth from all over Europe to meet again and share the resources they can find within themselves to face such crisis,” said Dorian Spaak, a member of the Board of Directors of AYUDH Europe.
People in Global Crises’. The discussion focused on how mental health can be supported through educational systems, policy frameworks, and a spiritual approach to life. The outcomes of the discussions is summarized in a youth statement which will be disseminated to policy makers in Europe.
In assembling their ideas for the statement, AYUDH was mentored by humanitarian leaders who joined the discussion:
• Swamini Amrita Jyoti Prana, Director of the NGO ETW-France
• Gabriela Wright, Actress, humanitarian and cofounder of ‘Never Alone’, a suicide prevention program
• Mette Bjerkass, teacher and journalist, formerly head of Education in United Nations Association of Norway
• Andreas Hirsch, Advisor in European Youth Policies at JUGEND für Europa, the German National Agency of the EU-Programs Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps.
“We definitely can get power from outside, and why not? But this is always dependent and it can be not lasting. But there is within each one of us, without any exception, an infinite power. There is an inexhaustible source of energy, of joy, of clarity which is inside us,” said Swamini Amrita Jyoti Prana.
“A seed needs both rain and sun to grow. What we don’t like is the rain, but we need both to grow. If we can welcome both with the same interest, we can learn a lot and we will be able to cross that level which is covering our deep power which is inside. And that power is infinite.”
Other activities in the summit included interactive talks with inspirational leaders (Human Library), workshops for mindfulness and skill development, intercultural exchange, interactive team building activities, and events for sports, meditation, and music.
Many participants expressed their gratitude for the gathering and shared the impact it had on them and here are some of them:
“I am going to design my life and surroundings from the heart with satva and see the actions I make with gratitude, knowing they will prosper and flourish to impact awesome change for our future.” – Isha
“I have learned that we as human beings can be beautiful and contribute good things if we choose this. We have really felt a connection to the Earth and its energies.” – Janna
“Take responsibilities, take some action, and the power of the youth stands in compassion.” – Lena
The power of youth is a driving force that has the potential to make a significant impact on the world. Young people are the future leaders of society, and their voices, opinions, and actions can shape the world they will inherit. Today's youth are more empowered than ever before, with access to technology and information that allows them to connect with others and share their ideas and perspectives on a global scale.
The youth of today have a unique perspective on the world, one that is shaped by their experiences and the challenges they face. They are often at the forefront of social and political movements, leading the way towards change and progress. From climate activism to calls for social justice, young people have shown time and time again that they are not afraid to speak up and demand a better future for themselves and their communities.
As the world continues to evolve and face new challenges, it is essential to recognize and support the power of youth. By empowering young people to take an active role in shaping their future, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society for all. It is up to us to provide the resources and opportunities that will allow the next generation to thrive and make a positive impact on the world.
“This week I got to learn resilience, how to accept a situation, especially an uncomfortable one, and move on from it with peace.” – Anaelle
“The gathering enabled us to learn about people from all walks of life who shared their personal stories and experiences. We felt connected to each other.” – Gilla
For the last 18 years, AYUDH Europe has been organizing a wide array of events and activities in order to integrate and bring forward Amma’s message of love and compassion. Several of these projects have turned out to be outstanding, spontaneously garnering three best practices awards from the European Commission and the Salto network. AYUDH National Groups have also flourished throughout Europe, reaching out to more than 7,000 young people over recent years.
Overall, the summit was a source of inspiration, hope, and encouragement for the youth who attended, and the quotes from the speakers and participants serve as a reminder of the power and potential that lies within each individual to make a positive impact on the world.
