International Youth Conference: "Children of the European Union"

We invite the EPAS network ambassadors to the international conference “Children of the European Union,” taking place on November 6th-7th at Jõhvi Gymnasium, as part of a series of conferences between Estonian and Czech schools and the EPAS programme.

The conference will focus on Estonia’s 20-year membership in the European Union and its impact on life from the perspective of different generations. During the event, we will discuss the developments the European Union has brought to Estonia and how people from three different generations perceive the membership. The program includes various presentations, a panel discussion, and workshops for students and teachers. EPAS ambassadors from the Czech Republic and Latvia will also participate in the conference. The event is organized by the students of Jõhvi Gymnasium.

To participate in the conference, please register through this form by October 28th at the latest. Participants are responsible for their own transportation and accommodation costs. The working language of the conference is English.

For more information: riina.vaht@johvig.ee, alissa.norman@mondo.org.ee

Conference Schedule

November 6th, 2024

9.30-10.00 Welcome coffee and registration
10.00-10.10 Opening keynote
10.10-10.15 Greetings from Jõhvi Gymnasium and Jõhvi Municipality
10.15-11.30

Speakers:

10.15-10.30 NGO Mondo
10.30-10.45 Gymnázium Bystřice nad Pernštejnem
10.45-11.00 Tamsalu Gymnasium
11.00-11.15 European Parliament Liaison office in Estonia
11.15-11.30 Jõhvi Gymnasium
11.30-12.15 Lunch
12.15-13.15 Panel discussion: Three different generations of speakers: (1) born in USSR, (2) born in free republic, (3) born in European Union
13.15-13.30 Coffee break
13.30-15.00

Workshops under the headline “Collaboration”:

13.30-14.10 Workshop nr. 1 for students (on-site registration)
14.20-15.00 Workshop nr. 2 for students (on-site registration)
13.30-15.00 EPAS seminar for educators: “Empowering future EU citizens: Engaging students with EU challenges and opportunities” (activity of the EPAS programme)
15.00-15.15 Conference close
15.30* Sightseeing tour in Jõhvi 
18.00 – 20.00**
 Dinner for guests from the Czech Republic in Latvia (Mio Mare Restaurant, Toila)

*only with separate registration
**Reception with the municipal government for foreign guests

November 7th, 2024

Fieldtrip within the Ida-Virumaa county (with separate registration).

EPAS seminar for educators: “Empowering future EU citizens: Engaging students with EU challenges and opportunities” (13.30-15.00 | November 6)

During the international conference, Mondo is organizing an EPAS seminar for educators (senior ambassadors) with the following objectives:

  • Deepen understanding of current EU issues and challenges.
  • Share best practices and tools for teaching EU topics to students.
  • Create a collaborative environment for teachers to exchange ideas and experiences.

The seminar is part of the EPAS programme.

13.30-13.40 Introduction & ice-breakers
13.40-14.00 Current EU issues – what is relevant at the moment? Short presentation by EPLO Office. Topics:
  • Commissioners hearings 2024
  • Strategy and activities towards Ukraine/Moldova/Georgia and Russia
  • Presidency of the Council of European Union in general and Hungarian Presidency at the moment
14.00-14.20 Introduction of tools for integrating EU topics with various school subjects or extra-curricular activities:
  • EPAS resources (toolkits, digital tools, lesson plans from the European Parliament’s resources)
  • Discussion-based methods (e.g., model European Parliament debates and simulations)
  • Using multimedia and interactive platforms (e.g., Europarl TV, EU Learn, Europa.eu)
14.20-14.45
 Group activity – designing lesson plans and presenting ideas for feedback
14.45-14.55 Q&A and open discussion
14.55-15.00 Wrap-up and key takeaways

Student workshops (13.30-15.00 | November 6)

In parallel to the seminar for senior ambassadors, EPAS junior ambassadors are offering various “from students to students” workshops:

Orientation with Jõhvi Gymnasium students We invite you to participate in the orientation at Jõhvi Gymnasium. You will complete exciting tasks and discover interesting places. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the gymnasium and its traditions.
Building a friendship bridge with Narva Gymnasium students In the workshop, we will collaborate to build a bridge using the provided materials. We will develop team communication and resource sharing to achieve common goals.
Mental health in school with Maardu Gymnasium students It is often misunderstood that mental health is just as important as physical health. If we do not learn at a young age how to keep our thoughts positive and balanced, we may find ourselves on the wrong path in adulthood.
Cracking the secret code by Jõhvi Secondary School students Here, you can dive into an exciting adventure where you’ll test your skills in solving secret codes. Four awesome tasks await you, each bringing you one step closer to the final solution. In each task, you’ll need to use your logic, creativity, and teamwork to uncover clues. Come and show how clever you really are!
The tower of power by Jõhvi Central School students A great tool for practicing teamwork. The instructor places 8 wooden blocks upright on the floor. Each team member takes hold of a rope connected to a crane. The goal of the task is to build a tower by stacking the blocks on top of each other using the crane.
Design thinking with Põlva Gymnasium students We will address environmental issues and try to find solutions through group work using design thinking.

Conference partners
Jõhvi Municipality, NGO Mondo, European Parliament Liaison Office in Estonia,  Jõhvi Gymnasium, Tamsalu Gymnasium, Narva Gymnasium, Maardu Gymnasium, Jõhvi Elementary School, Jõhvi Central City School (Elementary school), Põlva Gymnasium, Gymnázium Bystřice nad Pernštejnem.