Member organisations of the “RADA” met the European Youth Forum in Vilnius

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) – the largest platform of youth organisations in Europe, uniting over 100 members and representing tens of millions of young people – held its Board Meeting on July 11–12 at the “RADA” office in Vilnius. 

As part of the programme of the event, the YFJ board found it important to initiate a meeting with several of the Belarusian National Youth Council’s member organisations – including the Belarusian Students’ Association, Maladaja Hramada, Others, Solidarity Postcard Workshop, and Viasna’s Volunteer Service. The delegation also held discussions with Margo Vorykhava, representative of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus and the Advisor on Youth Policy and Students to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

The purpose of this exchange was to understand how the European Youth Forum can effectively advocate for the needs of Belarusian youth within European institutions and among policymakers.

Key topics discussed included:

• The current situation of young activists and youth organisations in Belarus, and possible forms of YFJ support;
• Updates on priorities and ongoing activities of “RADA”;
• The status of “RADA” and its member organisations following recent USAID funding cuts.

“It was important to highlight that repression against Belarusian youth is still ongoing and becoming more complex, taking new and subtle forms. It limits young people’s choices and pushes them further away from European society.

We also discussed the challenges faced by youth organisations in exile, as well as the situation of Belarusian students in European countries – including problems with mobility and legalisation, financial difficulties, and the recognition of diplomas,” commented Yulia Ralko, the International Secretary of “RADA”.

“Every time I think about Belarusian youth, I feel sorrow and deep anxiety. For me, this is not just a topic – it’s pain that I carry together with every young person who is forced to leave their homeland or faces obstacles in pursuing their path at home.

The meeting in Vilnius was an opportunity for me to cry out to the world that our youth deserve better. We spoke about mobility, about education – but behind those words are real stories of young people fighting for every opportunity, for every step toward their dreams.

I cannot remain indifferent to their pain, to those who feel cut off from their culture, from their loved ones. This is about human lives. And if we can make sure that, even in these conditions, our young people don’t feel alone – if each of them can find their own path – that will be the greatest victory for me,” shared Uladzislau Areschanka, a participant of the meeting and representative of Maladaja Hramada.

The Belarusian National Youth Council “RADA” expresses its sincere gratitude to the European Youth Forum and all participants for the opportunity to hold this dialogue. For “RADA” and Belarusian youth, this is not only about solidarity – it’s about the chance to be heard and to act together with the European community.