ThinkYoung

Connecting the dots Read our weekly blog prepared by Chichak When people think about event communications, they usually picture the person with the camera, interviewing speakers, taking photos, or filming content on-site. And, of course, that image in your head? Absolutely correct. But most probably, there is always a person on the other end of the chat too.  During ThinkYoung events in different locations, from a STEM School in Addis Ababa, to Youth Connect in Ireland, France, and to Youth Summit in Berlin, I'm usually supporting remotely while colleagues are on the ground. Those colleagues are often the eyes and ears if the comms team is not around. As content comes in throughout the day, I'm reviewing photos, drafting captions, selecting clips, scheduling posts, choosing music for Instagram Stories and more importantly making sure that we are on brief and on message and we are focused on telling our story with creativity and integrity. It's a different experience from being at the event itself. You're following the day through photos, voice notes, messages, and quick updates rather than seeing it unfold in front of you. Sometimes that means spending part of a weekend glued to your phone. Sometimes it means making last-minute edits while you're out and about because the copy needed some last minute fine-tuning. What I find interesting is how quickly you become immersed in an event you've never actually attended. By lunchtime, you know which sessions are more interesting for the participants, and which moments deserve a post or a reel. You're experiencing the event differently, but you're experiencing it nonetheless. All pieces of a puzzle form into one impact. The on-site team captures the moments, catches the energy of the space and meets new people. The remote team helps turn them into a story that reaches people beyond the room. The content people see online is usually the result of constant collaboration between colleagues gathering stories on the ground and colleagues shaping, publishing, and amplifying those stories elsewhere. Both are part of the process, just in different ways. #ThinkYoungBTS

As we prepare for next week’s G7 Policy Breakfast in Évian, the focus is clear: how AI is already shaping the way young people learn, work and build new skills. ThinkYoung will share new research supported by OpenAI, alongside a broader discussion with policymakers and experts on what comes next for education and youth. Register your interest here: https://lnkd.in/ePYPp-qx OpenAI Global Affairs #G7 #G7France2026 #AI #Education 

G7 Policy Breakfast: “AI & Young People: Three Years of Learning”. Speaker announcement: Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer at OpenAI, will join us in Évian-les-Bains. Drawing on findings from ThinkYoung's new research, supported by OpenAI, this session will explore the impact of AI and how it is shaping young people's lives, learning, and future opportunities. 📅 17 June 2026 🕗 08:00–10:00 Limited seats available. Register your interest here: https://lnkd.in/ePYPp-qx OpenAI Global Affairs #G7 #G7France2026 #AI #Education #Youth

Here is the first episode of our Beyond the Stage series with Emily and Ioan 🎻 For Emily, inspiration often comes from the world outside her practice room. A view into the courtyard, a quick hello to a passing friend, or time spent teaching and learning alongside others makes practicing feel more connected and meaningful. For Ioan, music is just one part of a wider creative world, alongside his passion for musicology and the curiosity that drives him to keep exploring. Together, their stories offer a glimpse into life beyond the orchestra and the many ways creativity, learning, and human connection continue to shape their musical journeys. #WBYO #buildingbridges #CreativeEurope Western Balkans Youth Orchestra Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Emily and Ioan are the first musicians featured in Beyond the Stage, our new Western Balkans Youth Orchestra series exploring the creativity, passions, routines, and everyday moments that shape the journey and growth of those young talents. Stay tuned as they invite us into their world through a collection of personal snapshots captured off stage! #WBYO #buildingbridges #CreativeEurope

The Western Balkans Youth Orchestra’s mission is to build bridges through music, offer a platform for young talents from the region, and use arts and culture as catalysts for growth, peace, and opportunity. And behind those young artists, there is more than just live performances and rehearsals. There are challenges and wins, moments of inspiration, friends and families, and much more. That's why we invited some of the musicians to share what life looks like beyond the stage. Meet the musicians behind our new Western Balkans Youth Orchestra series 🎻 #WBYO #buildingbridges #CreativeEurope Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

On 17 June, we will host a policy breakfast on “AI & Young People: Three Years of Learning” in Évian-les-Bains in the context of the G7 Summit. Register your interest here: https://lnkd.in/ePYPp-qx From lessons learned to opportunities and challenges, we will discuss the impact of AI and how it is shaping young people's lives. The discussion will be informed by preliminary findings from our latest research, supported by OpenAI. Our research focuses on teenagers’ use of AI at school and at home, teacher confidence in using AI tools, and the role of parents in guiding young people’s engagement with these technologies. 📍 Évian-les-Bains 🗓 17 June 2026 | 08:00–10:00 #G7 #G7France2026 #AI #Education OpenAI Global Affairs Rafaela Nicolazzi

Not a ban, but better solutions. Earlier this week in Madrid, together with SEK Education Group and Fad Juventud, we convened youth representatives from Cibercorresponsales, parents, educators, policymakers, industry leaders, and digital experts to discuss one of the most pressing challenges facing families today: how to keep young people safe online while helping them make the most of the opportunities the digital world offers. Our findings show that most parents in Spain and across Europe prefer approaches based on parental approval rather than a blanket ban. The discussion, moderated by Nora Kurtin from Sapos y Princesas, focused on the importance of digital literacy, parental involvement, and safety features to better address concerns such as inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and talking to strangers. As María Zabala Pino from Fad Juventud noted: “The more we learn, the better we can help young people navigate the challenges, dangers and risks, but also the opportunities of the digital environment.” ThinkYoung also calls on local authorities, educators, and industry leaders to work alongside civil society, parents, and young people to develop the tools and resources needed to support teenagers and families in navigating the digital world, and to build a safer and better digital future. Explore our research here: https://lnkd.in/eneHgggD #OurFeedOurFuture #DigitalSafety

From whiteboard to impact delivery. Read our weekly blog prepared by Anastasiia. Over the past year, I’ve become more involved in our External Relations team, which includes communicating with partners and writing project proposals. I really enjoy this part of the job because it requires creativity and the ability to develop ideas for future projects that are not only engaging for young people but also have a meaningful impact on their lives. When writing a proposal, we think beyond the project itself. We focus on the impact we can create, what we can achieve with our partners, and how we can combine our expertise and resources. We also consider how we can create spaces for meaningful dialogue and build bridges with decision-makers. But most importantly, we focus on the needs, expectations, and behaviours of our target audience: young people. We constantly ask ourselves questions such as: “If I were a teenager with the opportunity to join this project, would I enjoy it? What would I learn? Would I be excited to tell my friends and family about it? And most importantly, would it help me build a better future for myself and my community?”. Once we can confidently answer these questions, the idea for a new project begins to take shape. Project management, however, is quite different. At this stage, the concept already exists, so the challenge is no longer creating an idea from scratch. Instead, the focus shifts to delivering the best possible experience for participants. From designing the programme to ordering merchandise, every detail matters. We aim to make every aspect as engaging, valuable, and memorable as possible for our target audience. Another key difference is teamwork. Managing projects means working closely with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders, making it essential that everyone is aligned and working towards the same vision. Despite their differences, proposal writing and project management have taught me three important lessons: 1. Think outside the box. 2. Always put yourself in the shoes of your target audience. 3. Great ideas only make an impact when they are executed well. Personally, I prefer the project management part because you get to see the results of your work firsthand. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch an idea turn into a real project and see the impact it has on young people. But at the end of the day, whether you are creating a project idea or bringing it to life, the goal remains the same: creating meaningful opportunities that inspire and empower young people. #ThinkYoungBTS