Youth Empowerment Seminar
The biggest event in YFU returns on 22–26 June 2026
What is the YES?
The Youth Empowerment Seminar (YES) is a yearly event hosted by Youth For Understanding, gathering more than 100 volunteers and 400 students who get the chance to learn about active citizenship and topics of global interest, but also to talk about their exchange experience with the volunteers and the other students.
The YES aims to empower participants to expand upon the learnings gained through exchange programmes or other intercultural experiences, while connecting with the global YFU community, and thus become proactive and globally-oriented agents of change.
Watch the official After Movie of YES 2024!
YES 2026
Shape the Future - It depends on You(th)
The YES 2026 will take place near Berlin from 22–26 June 2026, bringing together 400 participants and 100 volunteers for a week dedicated to this year’s theme, Shape the Future – It Depends on You(th). Together, we’ll explore what it means to be an active citizen and how young people can drive meaningful change.
Are you curious about how to make a real impact on the issues you care about—like discrimination, democracy, or climate action? At the YES 2026, you’ll discover the tools you already have, learn how your exchange experience can strengthen your voice, and see how even small actions can lead to bigger change.
Throughout the seminar, we’ll dive into inspiring examples of civic engagement around the world and uncover the many ways you can shape society, for example at school, in local communities, online, and in non-profit spaces. You’ll meet passionate like-minded people from around the world, spark new ideas, and build lasting connections with fellow changemakers.
Educational Tracks at the YES 2026
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Speak Up: Media and Participation
In this track, you explore how to use media and social platforms to share your ideas and make your voice heard.
You’ll look at real examples of campaigns and social media content, and learn what makes messages powerful and engaging. Together, we’ll explore how stories, visuals and simple ideas can raise awareness and inspire others.
A big part of the track is hands-on group work. You’ll work in teams to create your own message, try out creative formats and develop ideas around topics you care about.
The focus is not on being perfect, but on experimenting, sharing ideas and building confidence. By the end, you’ll have new tools to express yourself and see how your voice can make a difference in your community.
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From Ideas to Reality: The Art of Debating
Have you ever felt like you wanted to make a difference, but decided not to because “one person is not enough”? In this track we will prove that a single voice can leave a big impact.
We will work with you on your skills to convince others and bring your ideas into reality by teaching you to make a compelling argument. Then, you will be able to put those skills into use in a debate with your fellow students. In our roleplaying simulation, you will be a representative in your hometown and you will get the chance to convince others that your solution is the best solution. In the end, you will either walk away as the one who came up with the best ideas, or you will realise just how complicated things can get in real life.
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Everyday Changemakers: Local Action
We often hear about "participation" as if it’s something that only happens at a ballot box or in a suit during elections🗳️. But what about the stuff that actually bugs you in your school, your neighborhood, or your social circle? If you aren't old enough to run for office yet, does that mean you just have to wait around?
✋🏽We don’t think so.
In this track, we’re looking at how the "small stuff," the biases, stereotypes, and everyday injustices or other problems, can be challenged using the things you already do. We’re ditching the lectures and expertise for creative, hands-on ways to speak up, from artsy projects and social hacks to discussing films. We’ll spend our time exploring different ways to turn a “oh wait, that’s not right" moment into a real-world action through activities that we can do in our daily lives. You’ll leave with a concrete roadmap for a small project to start back home, shaped by feedback and ideas from the rest of your peers.
This track is for you if you’re ready to stop being a bystander and start making a bit of a creative impact in your community without prior experience. No "activist" resume required, just a pair of walking shoes 👟 and a bit of an itch to change things⚡️.
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Social Impact Sprint: From Puzzles to Purpose
Have you ever felt powerless facing a challenge on a Tuesday afternoon or on the bus to school? Experienced something during your exchange that you'd love to see back in your country?
Our track invites you to collaborate on developing actionable plans that respond to social issues within your community.
Your last year introduced you to many different experiences and learnings. We would love to help you make it come to life.
Let's bring the puzzle pieces together!
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Values into Action: Building your Personal Path
You’ve seen the world - now what?
After a year of seeing new things, gaining different perspectives and making experiences, this track is a space to pause, reflect, and get curious about yourself. What do you care about - beyond expectations and outside opinions? Who do you want to be once you get back home? What kind of impact do you want to have?
Through reflection, discussion, and creative exploration we’ll figure out what moves you and together, we’ll look at why it matters to get involved, why it can sometimes feel hard to do so - and how you can move past that.
This track is for you if you know you want to have an impact but you don’t know where to start. Or maybe you already have an idea and want to explore it more deeply.
Since 2005, the YES has been held each year (bar 2020 and 2021) at EjB Werbellinsee, in Germany. The camp is spread over 105 hectares and offers access to sleep and eat to hundreds of people, as well as an opening to the beach and Werbellinsee lake.
The venue
Whether you’re looking for a place to socialise with other exchange students and volunteers or you’re more interested in the topic we prepare each year, the YES has a bit of everything for everyone.
Your days will be spent between learning sessions, socialising during our Spirit Activities or at the lounge, or reflect with well-prepared volunteers about your exchange experience.
The YES is the most special event in the YFU world, and an opportunity for hundreds of students to mingle with each other, to learn, and to get an insight into the fantastic world of YFU volunteers.
The experience