Between the 3rd and 5th of June 2026, the Mundus Bulgaria team took part in the GTF “Youth Forum: Empowering Future Changemakers”, part of the Green Transition Forum. The Youth Forum brought together young people, experts, entrepreneurs, representatives of European and national institutions, civil society organisations and the business sector, all with the common aim of encouraging young people to be active participants in the processes that shape the future of Europe.
Our participation in the forum was directly linked to our mission to support young people’s development, encourage their initiative and create opportunities for positive social change.
The three days provided an opportunity not only to gain new knowledge, but also to exchange ideas, build contacts and meet people with diverse professional and life experiences.
The first day focused on helping young people find their way in a rapidly changing environment. The discussions covered the future of the new generation, the responsible use of social media, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. The day concluded with a discussion on the skills needed in the age of AI.
These sessions showed the young participants that making a difference starts with informed personal choices, the ability to manage one’s resources, the way we communicate, and our willingness to participate actively in society. Particularly valuable was the opportunity for young people to see real-life examples of how an idea can develop into a business, a civic initiative or a project for the public good.
Among the panellists were Kata Tüttö, Chair of the European Committee of the Regions, and Dimitar Ferdinandov, Vice-President of the National Youth Forum of Bulgaria.
The second day focused heavily on practical knowledge that young people can apply directly to their education and professional development. Topics included the jobs of the future, building a CV and LinkedIn profile, sensible financing of future plans, and sustainable fashion.
A particularly important part of the programme was devoted to media literacy and countering disinformation, as well as the use of games as a tool for critical thinking and understanding the Sustainable Development Goals.
At the end of the day, ‘A Battle of the Generations’ took place, creating a space for dialogue between generations on topics such as civic participation and social engagement. For us, such activities are particularly valuable because they transform young people from passive listeners into active participants.
Among the experts speaking during the day were Andriana Sukova from the European Commission’s Directorate – General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, as well as specialists in media literacy and disinformation from Debunk.org and Dir.bg.
The final day focused on the question of what knowledge and skills will actually be important for young people over the next decade. The day began with the discussion ‘Degrees or Skills? What Will Matter in 2035?’, moderated by Victor Negrescu, Vice-President of the European Parliament.
The programme continued with topics related to youth entrepreneurship, digital skills and cybersecurity. Participants also had the opportunity to meet Ekaterina Zaharieva – European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation.
A key highlight of the forum was the sessions dedicated to mental health and sport as tools for empowering young people. These complemented the professional and educational topics with an equally important perspective: a young person’s development requires not only knowledge and professional skills, but also care for their mental wellbeing and self-confidence.
Taking part in the GTF Youth Forum 2026 was a valuable experience for our team, as the forum brought together in one place many of the issues we are working on. The most significant value of the event was that young people were given the opportunity to see themselves as agents of change, rather than merely adapting to it. The practical workshops and informal meetings helped to develop confidence, critical thinking and initiative.
For Mundus Bulgaria, the forum was also an opportunity to expand our network of contacts and to draw inspiration from ideas and best practices. In this way, we continue to develop activities through which young people do not simply talk about change, but acquire the knowledge, skills and confidence to be its driving force themselves.
