European Youth Forum Elections 2026

I joined my local Scout group in rural Limerick at eight years old. That decision changed everything - and I will never forget what it made possible. Everything I have done since, from community halls to European institutions, has been in service of one belief: that youth organisations change lives, and are worth fighting for. I want to hear what that means in your context. I am running to be your President because this platform is at a moment of choice, not comfort - and I want to lead it forward, with you. Adapt. Build. Challenge.

I am running for President because the European Youth Forum must be smart in its choices, brave in defending civic space, and relevant to its members. I have a track record of driving concrete change in complex political processes and delivering results that support youth organisations across Europe. I bring a leadership style that combines strategy with action, and ambition with genuine care for people. I will lead with clarity, energy and honesty, ensuring that our Platform not only speaks for young people and youth organisations, but delivers for them where it matters most.

The Youth Forum finds itself at a critical moment in history. Forces that have successfully shrunk civic space are gaining momentum and youth as a talking point seems often more being pushed to the end of the agenda.

Therefore, as an experienced leader for over 8 years in politics, youth work, inclusive capacity building and having to navigate and build a network in numerous international institutions; I see it as a responsibility to run for the elections and help the Youth Forum in their efforts to protect funding for youth work and secure a seat for youth at the negotiation tables.

During my mandate as a Board Member of the European Youth Forum, I worked on causes that have been my life's work for the better part of a decade. As Vice President, I aim to continue evolving into the work whilst also using my experience in strategic leadership to continue pushing the European Youth Forum's priorities on the global stage. I want to see a strong membership where no expertise is wasted, where the European Youth Forum is the first organisation to lead discussions and where its members are present in all relevant discussions. I want to do this with you, for all of us.

A girl scout from Poland, active for almost 10 years. Passionate about health, gender equality and sustainability. Currently pursuing a medical degree at the Medical University of Gdańsk, with professional background in public relations and crisis management. My year of studying abroad has sparked an interest in policy work, and resulted in representing World Association of Girl Guides and Girls Scouts Europe Region within YFJ for the past 3 years. Focused on improving internal procedures and actively procuring outside opportunities for the member organizations, with a level-headed and reflective approach to leadership.

David Ruíz Sánchez (he/him) is a dedicated youth, language, and human rights activist from Barcelona. He has been active in youth organisations for almost a decade, advocating for and providing training on language rights, as well as intercultural understanding, diversity, and inclusion within the youth Esperanto movement. His main motivation is to work towards a forum that leverages its cross-sectional diversity and that, through transparent communication, effective understanding and promoting learning exchanges, ensures strong cooperation and joint advocacy for young people’s rights.

I am running for the Board of the European Youth Forum because I believe in a strong, connected youth movement where every organisation feels heard and empowered. With over a decade of experience in youth advocacy, facilitation, and working with young people, I bring a collaborative leadership style grounded in trust, transparency, and clear communication. My work has focused on strengthening youth voice at all levels, and I am committed to ensuring the Forum remains both a credible representative and a responsive space shaped by its members.

I am running for the Board because youth participation must move from symbolic consultation to structural power. My motivation stems from my journey as a Latvian student in the Netherlands, experiencing the precarity of the housing and cost-of-living crises firsthand. Having served on the Executive Board of JEF Europe, I have the governance experience to turn collective frustration into professional advocacy. I lead through fellowship and facilitation, ensuring all members’ ideas find a platform. I am ready to work toward a less polarized, more democratic Europe.

Hi, I'm Vita from the Federation of Young European Greens. I am running for the YFJ Board because I believe young people deserve an organisation that both represents them and wins for them. From grassroots campaigning to EU lobbying, I've learned that bold politics needs solid infrastructure behind it. My priorities are expanding youth funding, strengthening member organisations through solidarity, and putting mental health and economic justice to the forefront. Young people from Tbilisi to Dublin are facing compounding crises. It's time to bring them into the centre of the frame.

Aisling (she/her) is a youth advocate from Ireland working at the intersection of youth participation, policy-making and multi-stakeholder engagement in local, national and international spaces. Through her experience with the European Youth Forum, European Commission President’s Youth Advisory Board and as UN Youth Delegate, she amplifies youth voices and leads consultations on issues such as human rights, inequality and democratic participation. She works to strengthen meaningful youth participation, non-formal education and sustainable development across policy and decision-making spaces.

I am running for the Board of YFJ because I believe in a Europe where every young person feels their voice matters. My motivation comes from my work with young people, where I see how much potential exists when opportunities are shared more fairly. Through my experience, including in a context shaped by the war in Ukraine, I have worked with young people from rural and underrepresented communities who are ready to engage but lack access. I want to contribute to a platform that is more inclusive, accessible, and responsive to young people’s realities across Europe.

I’m a fierce youth advocate with 13 years of experience from the youth sector, all the way from grassroots and local and regional levels to national and international arenas. I am inspired by the passion and stories of my peers, motivated through fighting for youth rights and dream of a tomorrow where everyone can feel like they matter, belong and are heard. I want to fight for that tomorrow: as a board member, I’d advocate for sustainable structures, funding and recognition, seats and protection in all spaces and for a better, transparent and bold YFJ with integrity.

Marin Capan is running for the Board Member of the European Youth Forum to strengthen the recognition of young people and youth organizations as equal partners in decision-making. With nearly a decade of experience, from grassroots initiatives to European policy processes, he focuses on connecting youth realities with policy impact. He brings strong leadership, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to inclusive and resilient youth representation and meaningful participation by advocating for youth in contexts where participation is limited, under-resourced, or structurally challenged.

I’m Martina, coming from grassroots youth work, where I first saw how access to information and support shapes young people’s paths. I’m motivated to ensure that opportunities created at the European level truly reach all young people, regardless of their background. I believe a strong youth policy must remain grounded in real experiences. As a delegate to the Youth Forum and an FCC member, I gained insight into how policies translate into practice. I’m running for the Board to help turn priorities into meaningful results and strengthen trust, cooperation, and engagement.

I am running for the Financial Control Commission to contribute to a transparent, accountable, and financially sound European Youth Forum. With over 10 years of experience in youth organisations and NGOs in general, including serving on the Board of the European Youth Forum (2023–2024), I bring solid expertise in financial oversight and knowledge of the network. As Executive Director of CESES, I manage financial and organisational processes of an international NGO everyday. My motivation is also personal: my mother was part of the first FCC in 1996, which inspires my commitment to this role.

I have been part of the European Youth Forum family as a delegate since 2021 — and now I want to contribute from the other side of the table. Across two years co-founding and running a startup, managing an NGO with a seven-figure budget, overseeing EU grant reporting, and now working as a consultant in financial institutions, I have built a genuine breadth of financial experience. The FCC's role is to report accurately and transparently — and that is exactly what I do professionally. I want to bring that rigour to serve the Forum I genuinely love.

My motivation to run for the Financial Control Commission stems from my desire to use my skills and experience in finance and internal audit to contribute to the financial soundness of the European Youth Forum.

I have been a member of the Board of the National Youth Council (NYC) of Luxembourg (CGJL / de Jugendrot) for more than seven years, including serving as President since 2022. In this capacity, I have been involved in the European Youth Forum since 2020.

I am motivated to run for this position because I want to contribute to transparent and accessible financial management within YFJ. With a background in financial analysis and audit, combined with my ongoing research in finance, I could bring strong analytical skills and a willingness to learn quickly. I am particularly committed to making financial information clearer and more engaging for members. Having experience in youth organisations, I value collaboration and I am eager to support YFJ in strengthening trust and sustainability in its financial governance.

The work of the CBMA is extremely important for the healthy growth and increased diversity of the YFJ. It is important that while the youth space is shrinking, we are growing and allowing even more voices to be heard. The objective process conducted by the CBMA is now even more important than ever, to provide the impartial voice in the political landscape of YFJ. I have loved doing the work in the current term, and would be very honoured to continue the vital work we do in the CBMA.

He is a lawyer with experience in youth organisations and European cooperation, currently working in the Parliament of the Republic of Slovenia. He is an active member of the CBMA, engaged in membership processes and democratic governance at the European Youth Forum. Alongside his professional and youth work, he is also a dedicated folklorist committed to preserving and promoting cultural heritage.

Young people’s organisations deserve a fair, transparent and rigorous membership system that protects the platform’s integrity while recognising the diversity of NYCs and INGYOs. As a National Youth Council board member, former INGYO board member and law student, I want to bring structured legal analysis, practical governance experience and strong impartiality to the CBMA, ensuring membership decisions are well‑reasoned, consistent and grounded in the Youth Forum’s values.

As a PROM delegate for three years, I’ve learned that youth organisations are, above all, about people. I believe the YFJ must remain an inclusive umbrella advocating for everyone. Running for CBMA, I offer an 'open ears, open heart' approach, combining statutory expertise with skills in active listening and group dynamics. I aim to be a professional 'first face' for the Forum, ensuring applicants feel truly seen. My goal is to build bridges with new members while safeguarding our shared democratic standards, helping our YFJ family grow even stronger together.