#Brussels | Gen Z Kitchen Festival: Amplifying Western Balkans youth voices
On 4 March, youth activists, policymakers, and researchers came together in Brussels for the Gen Z Kitchen Festival: What’s Cooking in the Western Balkans. The discussions were grounded in the regional survey commissioned by the Open Society Foundations Western Balkans, which focused exclusively on Gen Z and captured the perspectives of more than 6,000 young people across the region.
From conditional trust in political institutions to a strong and enduring commitment to democracy and European integration, young people across the Western Balkans are reshaping expectations around participation, accountability, and how institutions engage with their generation.
🎥 Watch the video produced by our media partner @euractiv EurActiv and hear the voices of the Gen Z Kitchen Festival speaking directly from Brussels, where key decisions shaping the region’s European future are made.
👉 Explore the full communication package, including the report, factsheet, and photo highlights, through our link in BIO.
#GenZ #WesternBalkans #Democracy #FutureOfEurope OpenSocietyWesternBalkans
What an incredible evening of dialogue, critical thinking, and community engagement. Our Food Sovereignty & Security Debate brought together diverse perspectives on one of the most pressing issues of our time.
From powerful arguments on global food systems to meaningful discussions on local solutions, the room was filled with curiosity, passion, and a shared commitment to learning. The Oxford-style format created space for both structured debate and active audience participation.
A huge thank you to our panelists, moderator, and everyone who joined us and contributed to such a thoughtful and engaging discussion.
✨💙 Last chance to grab an early bird ticket. Only a few left but don’t worry, plenty more tickets will be released soon.
So grab a ticket, invite a friend and come share a meal 💛 more details coming soon!
#universityofedinburgh #foodfestival #bamelawsociety #multicultural #explorepage
Meet our Sponsor – Fiem’s Kitchen 🤝
We thank @fiems.kitchen for their valuable support and contributions to the 9th JCI Balkan Conference 2026 & CYE Türkiye Final.
Together, we create stronger connections and lasting impact.
📍 27–29 March 2026 | Ankara
🌍 Balkans Forward: Thriving in the Intelligence Age
🔗 www.jcibalkanconference2026.com
We went LIVE to officially announce something exciting 🌍🍴
The International Food Fest 2026 in Bruges is coming with flavors from more than 15 countries, bringing together diverse cultures, traditions, and authentic cuisines in one place.
📍 Howest University of Applied Sciences, Foyer A Building, Bruges
🗓️ 1st April
🕦 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Exclusively for the Howest community.
Be there to experience the world on a plate.
#howest #belgium # #hungryforculture
It’s happening! The date is confirmed and we can’t wait to see you all there.
⏰ 1 April 2026 | 12:30–13:30
📍 Howest University of Applied Sciences – Campus Bruges Station, Foyer Building A
Are you #HungryForCulture? 🌍
#howest #studyinflanders
Regenesis York and Free Thinkers Club are excited to present an Oxford-Style Debate focused on the pressing issues of Food Security and Sovereignty.💭🌾
This debate format encourages dynamic dialogue, where speakers present opposing viewpoints and the audience actively engages in the conversation.🗣
🗓 Date: Thursday, March 26th
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Location: HNES Room 140
Come with a perspective, a friend, and a case to make.🎤 The audience decides the winner ⚖️
The house is in session— let the debate begin🍽🪴
👉Sign-up link in bio.
💬 A year ago, during the Braga Conference “Democracy in Action!”, we asked young people what youth participation at the local level means to them, why it matters, and how they first got involved locally.
📽️ They gave some great answers and proposals for the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life!
Yesterday, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers adopted the text of the Charter, which includes many of those proposals! 👏
👉 Hear some of their ideas in the video and read more about the Charter via the link in our bio!
During the Youth Exchange “Food for Life”, the Hungarian team led a cooking workshop where participants learned how to prepare medvehagymás falatka, a traditional Hungarian snack 🧀🇭🇺🥬
Participants worked in small international groups to prepare the ingredients and shape the snacks while learning about the role of wild garlic in Hungarian cuisine. The Hungarian team explained the recipe step by step and shared how this ingredient is commonly used in seasonal dishes.
The workshop was a great opportunity to learn new cooking skills, cooperate with others, and discover another country’s food traditions in a practical and enjoyable way 👩🍳👨🍳🍽️
Participants in the project come from Poland 🇵🇱, Latvia 🇱🇻, Czechia 🇨🇿, Hungary 🇭🇺, and Türkiye 🇹🇷 🌍
The partner organisations of the project are:
🇵🇱EUROMED EVE POLSKA @euromed.eve.polska
🇱🇻Latvian Association for Youth Activists @laya.latvia
🇭🇺Biatorbágyi Innovatív Technikum és Gimnázium @bitiskola @bited.u
🇨🇿European Youth Centre Břeclav @eycb.info
🇹🇷Uluslararası Gençlik Aktiviteleri Merkezi Derneği - IYACA @iyacaorg
The project is organised by Euromed EVE Polska and co-funded by the European Union 🇪🇺
#FoodForLife #ErasmusPlus #YouthExchange #nonformaleducation
💪💪 Don't miss the recap of our panel event and hackathon to help change thr food system
🫶🫶 This event on 3rd March was part of our International Women's Day 2026 Celebrations and was for anyone who wants to be part of building a more just and inclusive food system - from entrepreneurs and operators to creatives, activists, and allies.
📍We heard from some amazing women at @CornerCornerCanadaWater who are all in some way working to tackle food poverty and transform the food system:
✨️ @Bentley_sarah – Author & Food Justice Activist & Founder of @MadeInHackn
✨️ @SaretaPuri - Diversity Outreach Coordinator, Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming
✨️ Georgina Branch - Head of Progammes at @schoolfoodmatters improving school meals for all children
✨️ @mecca.ibrahim - Co-founder of @women_in_food_industry and trustee at @schoolfoodmatters
✨️Carly McGoldrick – Head of Partnerships & Impact, @FoodBankAid
✨️Victoria Williams – Director, @FoodMatters_org
✨️After the panel worked to turn that inspiration into action. Collaborating with fellow attendees in with the help of @andreathinksfoodsystems & @priya_narain4 Head of Impact at @kerbfood we explored challenges, generated ideas, and proposed practical solutions.
🍻🫶 There was free welcome drinks from @Lucky SaintBeer and @DASHDrinks to keep us refreshed throughout the evening.
🔗💌 Find out more at our recap
bit.ly/iwd2026foodinsecurity
Ending hunger requires rethinking how people connect to it.
@chef.suman.7and the World Food Forum Youth Ambassadors explore how the next generation views food security. They highlight the importance of food literacy, sustainability education, and understanding how food production affects communities and the environment.
When young people rethink policies, careers in agriculture, and support for food producers, they begin creating pathways toward stronger and healthier food systems.
Don’t miss this episode of Zero Hunger Podcast. URL in Bio
Where Europe meets and democracy speaks 🗣️🇪🇺
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#erasmusplus #youthexchange #nonformal #education #belgium