Earlier this year, I had the chance to join a series of webinars from the Speak Out project, led by Myriam from European Alternatives. Every Tuesday evening, we gathered to talk about topics related to intercultural societies, stereotypes, misinformation and promoting active citizenship.
It was really meaningful for me to take part in these sessions, especially as I’ve become more interested in these areas lately. We started with the basics so everyone could get familiar with key definitions and fundamental terms that would be important for future discussions. We also learned a bit about the history of discrimination and got some simple, practical ideas on how we can respond to or take action against it in everyday life.
One of the best parts of the webinars was the opportunity to meet inspiring guest speakers who are activists themselves. For example, we met Xheni Karaj, an LGBTQI+ rights activist from Albania known for leading national campaigns; Tina Tomšič, who is behind the My Voice, My Choice campaign for accessible abortion in Europe; and Jasper Schut from STUUR (Rotterdam Student Union), who works on social and climate justice. Each of them shared their experiences, challenges, and the realities of their work. Their stories were super inspiring and showed us how much impact one person can have. It’s not always easy, but even small steps matter and can lead to something bigger.
They also gave us practical tips on how to advocate for causes we care about. They highlighted the importance of language and communication, how to prioritise stakeholders, and shared helpful tools, like the Advocacy Handbook from the European Youth Forum.
The Speak Out webinars gave me a safe space to learn, reflect and get inspired. I walked away not only with more knowledge but also with motivation to be more active and aware in my community. Even if you're just getting started, you can make a difference.
Written by Marta Winkler from ESN UAM Poznań