Act.ival for Future
We are convinced: You(th) Can Make Change Happen!
What to expect 2026
the Program
THE ENGAGEMENT FIELDS
What are Engagement Fields?
During the Actival´26 you will dive deeper into one of five Engagement Fields and connect your own experience with new ideas, perspectives, and practical tools.
Your workshop journey starts on Friday in “Our Engagement: Voices of Solidarity”, where you will meet other participants who are active in a similar field. Together, you will share experiences, questions, and challenges from your own engagement and explore what solidarity looks like in your everyday practice.
On Saturday, these conversations continue in the workshop sessions. Together with other participants and external experts, you will take a closer look at the realities of your Engagement Field: the issues that shape it, the challenges people are facing, and the bigger questions behind your work. You will also discover practical methods, tools, and approaches that can support you in your own context.
On Sunday morning, in “Our Future: Solidarity of Tomorrow”, you will bring these reflections together and look ahead: What kind of future do we want to build for your engagement field? What needs to change? And what role can young people play in shaping that future?
Volunteering & Community
Volunteering & Community is about being part of your (local) community and contributing to positive change through volunteering and community organizing. Young people engage in local projects, city initiatives, and neighborhood actions that strengthen solidarity and mutual support. The field includes both hands-on help (e.g., community services, mutual aid, local events) and organizing work that brings people together around shared needs and goals. At its core, it builds inclusive spaces and a sense of belonging by connecting diverse groups and making communities more resilient. This engagement empowers young people to take initiative, build collective structures, and turn ideas into meaningful action in their everyday environments.
Inclusion & Diversity
Inclusion & Diversity is about creating safer spaces where everyone can exist freely and without being questioned, grounded in solidarity, equity, and active anti-discrimination. The field centers the rights, safety, and representation of marginalized communities and works to remove barriers to full participation. Power dynamics are made visible and addressed so that participation is actively enabled rather than assumed. Typical engagement includes awareness work, advocacy, community support, accessibility efforts, and practices that foster respectful and inclusive environments. This engagement empowers young people to challenge discrimination, strengthen belonging, and build fairer structures in their communities and organizations.
Climate & Ecological Sustainability
Climate & Ecological Sustainability is about taking action to protect and preserve our planet for current and future generations through sustainability and climate justice. Young people raise awareness and drive solutions that reduce harm, protect ecosystems, and support a livable and fair future for all. The field includes practical action (e.g., local sustainability projects), public communication, movement-building, and political advocacy for systemic change. It connects environmental goals with social justice, highlighting who is most affected and how responsibilities and resources should be shared. This engagement strengthens youth to take responsibility, mobilize others, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient society.
Education & Student Representation
Education & Student Representation is about empowering young people to actively participate and have a say in shaping their educational environments. Through representation, organizing, and advocacy, students make their voices heard and contribute to decisions that affect learning, wellbeing, and access. The field includes student councils and committees, campaigns for better conditions, peer-led initiatives, and efforts to improve equity in education. It strengthens democratic participation within schools and universities by making structures more responsive, transparent, and inclusive. This engagement empowers students to act collectively, take responsibility, and shape education systems that reflect their needs and realities.
Democracy & Politics
Democracy & Politics empowers young people to stand up for democratic values and actively shape their own future through civic and political engagement. Young people represent their peers, participate in decision-making, and influence policies at local, national, and international levels. The field includes advocacy, community participation, campaigning, political education, and efforts to strengthen trust, rights, and accountability in public life. It also addresses challenges such as polarization, disinformation, and unequal access to participation, with a focus on inclusion and representation. This engagement supports youth in becoming active citizens who help build a more inclusive, responsive, and resilient democracy.
