Fellowship 2025

Transnational Solidarity and Resilience, Fundamental Rights, Security

Young Europeans have been facing multiple crises in the past decade—from a pandemic to war at our doorstep and beyond, to forest fires, floods, earthquakes, political shifts toward anti-democratic parties, and more. In these challenging times, how can we foster resilience, defend fundamental rights, build transnational solidarity, and ensure security for our communities across Europe and beyond?

Funded by the European Union and the Hertie Foundation, the Schwarzkopf-Foundation awards three fellowships to young European educators for 2025 as part of the Educational Network Understanding Europe.

What is the aim of the fellowship 2025?

The aim of the fellowship is to support young European educators in developing new workshops on topics related to Transnational Solidarity and Resilience amidst multiple crises, Fundamental Rights, and Security. These workshops should be designed for students aged 13 and older, ensuring they are accessible, diversity-oriented, and responsive to the interests and lived experiences of young people. By introducing these new formats into both formal and non-formal educational settings, the programme aims to strengthen the democratic competences of students and young adults. It creates spaces for reflection and discussion around questions such as: How can we foster transnational solidarity and build resilience in the face of multiple crises? What innovative approaches can help protect and promote fundamental rights in today’s Europe? How can we rethink security to ensure it serves communities and safeguards democracy?
For fellows, the programme offers a unique opportunity to professionalise their social commitment, activism, and passion for educational work.

Fellowship: Transnational Solidarity and Resilience amidst multiple crises

This fellowship is all about creating fresh ideas and tools to help educators tackle the challenges of today’s world. From climate change to political shifts, crises don’t stop at borders—and neither should solidarity. The fellow is diving into the theme of transnational solidarity and resilience, using their unique passions and expertise to design workshops and materials that bring people together and inspire action. Whether it’s developing content for classrooms or crafting new formats for trainers in the Understanding Europe Network, their work will strengthen connections, foster support, and help communities navigate tough times together.

Fellowship: Fundamental Rights

How do we bring fundamental rights to life in a way that truly empowers people? This fellowship is all about making the rights protected by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (CFREU) more accessible and relatable to everyone, especially young people. Despite its importance, many still don’t know how the Charter applies to their lives or how to use it to protect democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The fellow is diving into these critical issues, using your creativity and expertise to design a workshop that builds awareness and sparks action. Their work will help more people understand, apply, and champion the Charter in their everyday lives. The fundamental rights fellowship is part of the FOCUS project which aims to raise awareness of the CFREU and brings together several European civil society organisations in the field of democracy.

Fellowship: Security

Security in today’s world is a multifaceted complex topic—it’s about understanding the many angles of security, from international conflicts to human rights, cyber security and beyond. This respective fellow is designing a peer-to-peer introductory workshop that helps young people explore these complex issues and break down how security impacts their lives and communities. Their workshop might for example highlight basic concepts, definitions, actors, institutions, and political rules and norms of security, encourage critical thinking, and empower participants to engage actively in public debates on different aspects of European security. Together, they’ll build knowledge, spark conversations, and inspire action within the young generation.

Fellows 2025

Yasmine Djidel

“I'm incredibly excited to take part in this fellowship on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights because I believe that we are at a critical juncture for democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Across the EU, we’re witnessing the growing influence of far-right ideologies that directly challenge the universality of rights, fuel discrimination, and seek to undermine the very principles the Charter stands for. For me, this fellowship is an opportunity not only to deepen my knowledge of fundamental rights, but also to strengthen the tools we need to defend them.”

Erion Krasniqi

"I’m really happy to have been selected as part of the Understanding Europe Fellowship because it gives me the chance to expand my network and connect with other passionate young people across Europe. It also offers a great opportunity to raise awareness about international solidarity and resilience—topics I deeply care about and believe are more important than ever in today’s world. I’m excited to contribute to conversations that matter and to grow both personally and professionally through this experience."

Cameron Merelle

"In a time where discussions around security are ever-important, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to highlight and encourage citizens to reflect on their individual security and the contextual and influential knowledge surrounding it. Security isn’t only about nations in conflict with one another and something individuals have no influence over. Each form of security is unique to the individual and its about translating those stories and feelings into tangible ways to uphold your own sense of security and the security of those around you."