From 13 to 19 April 2026, Mina and Claudia took part in Vibrant Minds on behalf of Bildung Nijmegen, an international Erasmus+ seminar in Rijeka, Croatia. For one week, youth workers, volunteers and people from different civil society organisations came together around one central question: how can we use art to give young people more space for expression, encounter and connection? For us, this is not an abstract question. At Bildung Nijmegen, we see again and again that art

On 14 April, young people came together again for a new Jeugdverbinden 2.0 session at Dar al Yasmin in Nijmegen. Following the first kick off, this was a valuable moment to continue building on the conversations, ideas and themes that had already started to take shape. This gathering once again focused on what young people themselves find important for their city and their future. In an open and welcoming setting, they spoke with one another about issues that genuinely matter

We are very happy to share that our application within the European Solidarity Corps has been positively approved. After receiving our ESC Quality Label, this is an important next step for us. This funding gives us the opportunity to further develop a range of ESC activities in the coming period and to create new opportunities for young people around solidarity, personal development, meaningful encounters, and international experience. More information about the activities an

Recently, we had a warm and meaningful conversation with Cees de Beer, city councillor in Nijmegen. We spoke about Bildung Nijmegen, our work with young people in the city, and why we believe it is so important that young people are not only listened to, but are also truly given the space to think along, speak up, and help shape their surroundings. It was a valuable exchange about what young people are experiencing, the challenges they face, and the importance of creating roo

At Bildung Nijmegen, we believe youth participation only becomes truly meaningful when young people are not brought in once a plan is almost finished, but are taken seriously from the very beginning. Not as a target group something is created for, and not simply as a group that is invited to respond to a question, a survey, or an idea that has already largely been decided. For us, it starts somewhere else. It starts with listening. With genuinely wanting to understand what is

On 10 March, Bildung Nijmegen attended the youth debate in Nijmegen together with a group of young people, following an invitation from the municipality in the lead-up to the municipal elections on 18 March. As part of our KA154 project Jeugdverbinden 2.0, we joined the event to engage with young people around issues that matter to them and to their future in the city. During the debate, different political parties discussed four key themes that had been submitted by our comm

From 24 February to 30 March 2026, two participants from Bildung Nijmegen – Olé and Jasper – are taking part in an inspiring European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Team Volunteering project in Guadeloupe. Together with young volunteers from across Europe, they are contributing to the Handi-Surf Festival, an initiative that promotes inclusive surfing and ocean activities for people with disabilities. The project shows how sport, solidarity and intercultural cooperation can come toget

With Jeugdverbinden (Youth Connect) 2.0: Our City, Our Voice, Bildung Nijmegen brings together young people from different neighbourhoods of Nijmegen to reflect on their role in the city and actively contribute to its future. The project is built on a simple yet powerful idea: young people should not only be the subject of policy discussions, but active participants in shaping the decisions that affect their lives. The first physical gathering of the project marked the begin

From 23 February to 2 March 2026, eight young people from our network took part in the international Erasmus+ youth exchange Cycles – Circles – Loop in Llinars del Vallès, near Barcelona in Spain. Together with participants from several European countries, they spent a week learning, creating and reflecting on the relationship between people, nature and society. The exchange focused on the idea of circularity. How can we rethink the way we live, produce and interact with our

Through Bildung Nijmegen, Jelmer took part in the Erasmus+ Training Course “The Art of Development” in Lithuania. This international training brought together youth workers, trainers and participants from different European countries to explore personal development, coaching and new approaches within youth work. A key theme of the training was embodiment – using the body as part of learning, reflection and personal growth. Through workshops, exercises and group activities, pa

At Stichting Bildung Platform Nijmegen we believe young people are not just the future, they are the present. With Jeugdverbinden 2.0: Our City, Our Voice, we are building a Nijmegen where your voice truly matters. Not tomorrow, but today. In Jeugdverbinden 2.0: Our City, Our Voice, we bring together young people from Nijmegen and the surrounding area to talk about what is happening in their lives, their neighbourhoods and their future. Topics such as equal opportunities, men

Last week, we organised a special afternoon for (part of) our community members. There was no agenda, no formal programme, no expectations. Just a moment to come together and say thank you. We played games, shared drinks, talked, laughed, and simply enjoyed each other’s company. It was a relaxed afternoon space to connect as people, without pressure or responsibilities. This gathering was all about appreciation. For the time, the energy, the trust, and the commitment our comm

At Bildung Nijmegen, we believe in learning, creating and connecting, not just within classrooms, but across communities, generations and borders. Our 2026 programme is a reflection of that belief. It brings together students, young adults, educators, artists, researchers, local residents, and international partners. Part of this programme is already in place. The rest? We’re building it together through dialogue, shared ownership, and co-creation. 🗳️ Youth in Dialogue (Jeu

Throughout the year, we worked across the city. In schools, in neighbourhoods, in studios and together met partners in Nijmegen. We collaborated with young people, artists, residents and professionals on projects where art and education were not goals in themselves, but ways to connect. Ways to meet, to create, to talk and to reflect on what is happening in the city and in people’s lives. Our local projects were centred on encounter. We worked at the intersection of cultural

In December, New Generation Paper took place in Évora, bringing together young people from different European countries around a topic that seems ordinary at first, yet touches many layers of everyday life: how we use paper, how we digitalise, and how conscious choices can shape a more sustainable future. Throughout the week, there was space to explore, question and learn together. Workshops focused on where paper comes from, how it is produced and consumed, and what impact t

We have received the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Quality Label – Lead & Support. For us, this recognition is a moment to pause and feel grateful for the trust placed in us, for the people we work with, and for the young people and volunteers who have been part of this journey. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that solidarity begins with real human connection. With this Quality Label, we are able to guide, coordinate and support volunteer projects within the

In December, the Erasmus+ training project Digital tools, be aware! took place in Guadeloupe. Youth workers and young people from Europe and the Caribbean came together to reflect on our everyday digital habits and their impact on both people and the environment. The trainings and workshops were delivered by Ride In 971 and Clean My Island. Drawing on their hands-on experience in youth work, education and environmental awareness, they made visible what often remains unseen in

At the beginning of December, youth workers and organisations from across Europe came together in Maribor for an intensive and inspiring Planning 2026 Weekend. Participants from the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Serbia gathered to reflect, connect and look ahead together. Over the course of three days, we explored current challenges in youth work, exchanged experiences and good practices, and discussed which themes and priorities truly matter as we

Connecting Voices brings young people from across Europe together in a safe, open space where experiences that are often difficult to talk about can finally be shared. During our second online session, we once again saw how powerful it is when young people meet each other without judgement, guided by curiosity and a genuine willingness to listen. As the conversation unfolded, the realities of bullying, discrimination, and integration challenges became clearer, but so did the

Last night, Mariënburgplein transformed in a way we don’t often experience. Young people from all across Nijmegen came together for Glow Up, the youth festival that brought real light into the late-November darkness, both literally and figuratively. It felt like a world of its own: laser beams drifting through the air, paint glowing into life, and conversations sparking between people who hadn’t met five minutes earlier. At the opening, something special took center stage. Ou