Change starts with us - National Changemakers Training

From June 6th to 9th, over 50 young volunteers from across Europe gathered in Paris for the National Changemakers Training, a dynamic initiative under the SPEAK OUT project organised by Erasmus Student Network (ESN) in collaboration with European Alternatives. The training brought together motivated youth leaders eager to foster civic engagement, counter disinformation and champion intercultural understanding.

Importantly, ESN Poland was proudly represented by three dedicated volunteers: Aleksandra Wojciechowska from ESN-EYE Łódź and Magdalena Brożek along with Mike Voropaiev from ESN UAM Poznań. Their contributions, perspectives, and creativity helped shape collaborative projects and enriched discussions throughout the training.

Representing national and local ESN sections, participants engaged in hands-on workshops, campaign co-creation sessions, and collaborative strategy development aimed at driving meaningful change within their communities. The event also coincided with Transeuropa Festival 2025, themed “Margins on Fire: Feminist Festival of Arts, Politics and Culture”, adding a powerful layer of feminist and anti-discrimination discourse to the experience.

Roundtable talks with grassroots feminist organisations like Le Planning Familial, #NousToutes and FIERCE, the training empowered participants to blend activism with creativity. Volunteers not only left with communication campaign ideas but also with new networks, fresh perspectives, and a renewed passion for mobility and social action.

As Aleksandra Wojciechowska, ESN-EYE’s HR Manager, shared:
“Meeting such a diverse group of people reminded me how much value ESN brings to my life. We spent hours discussing activism and how to build effective communication campaigns. The experience even sparked an idea for a campaign of my own that I’m determined to bring to life.”

The SPEAK OUT project continues to provide young changemakers the tools and spaces to lead with purpose. And for many of them, this was not just a training, it was the beginning of their next great initiative.