#EuropeShallHearYou at the German-Baltic Conference in Vilnius,
Lithuania (October 24th - 27th, 2024)
Do you think politicians should listen to what you as a young European have to say? Are you interested in meeting other like-minded peers who are passionate about better representation of youth and their ideas? Do you have any creative thoughts on how AI can be used to help address and combat the challenges facing Europe today? Then apply now and join one of our four clusters to discuss these ideas as a Youth Ambassador at the German-Baltic Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania in October 2024. Europe shall hear you and that is why we are primarily interested in your ideas and your creativity!
This unique project aims to bring together about 40 young people from all over Europe to discuss the importance of AI and its role in crisis management in Europe. The Youth Ambassadors (YA) have the chance to work together within four respective clusters:
Cluster A “AI in Refugee Protection and Humanitarian Aid” (Target Country: Lithuania): Seeking safety from war, violence, persecution or other human rights violations is an internationally recognized universal human right. Practical implementation of this right involves decision-making about supplying humanitarian aid, granting refugee protection, and identifying potential risks which is often complex and too slow in helping those in urgent need of protection. While more efficiency could be offered by automation and the use of artificial intelligence in the process, wrong or biased decisions about refugee status and the provision of humanitarian aid can have life-and-death consequences. With the numbers of those forced to flee soaring around the world, this cluster aims to find ways of ethical, non-discriminatory, and human rights-compliant use of AI in decisions concerning their future.
Cluster B “AI in Healthcare” (Target Country: Latvia): The constitutional right to receive healthcare and the country’s duty to provide quality healthcare is a challenge in Latvia. The Covid crisis showed some scenarios we could never prepare for. Or could we? The main goal of this cluster is to understand how AI tools could aid in creating more efficient policies, plans and mainly - solutions. Engage in stimulating discussions, real-time testing, and interactive mind map drawing sessions designed to chart a clear path toward the result. Together, we will examine ethical considerations, data privacy, and the seamless integration of AI tools to ensure equitable and effective healthcare for all citizens.
Cluster C “AI and Disinformation” (Target Country: Germany): Nearly half of the world’s population is eligible to vote in various national elections this year. With the growing possibilities of (generative) AI, election campaigns have changed significantly, and disinformation has been a growing problem for democracies by influencing voting decisions. This cluster aims to explore risks and chances of AI being used for disinformation – how can we recognize AI-generated content and how can we counter it?
Cluster D “AI in Climate Change Management” (Target Country: Estonia): Climate change directly contributes to more extreme weather conditions and heats up the planet, displacing entire populations, destroying people's livelihoods, and increasing hunger and poor nutrition, to name just a few consequences. It is therefore crucial to utilize AI as one of today's most important technologies to leverage environmental protection, whilst dealing with its hunger for energy. In this cluster, we will seek to understand and develop policy recommendations on how Estonia can contribute to minimizing its own carbon footprint, develop solutions to be used at a wider scale, and meet the challenges for a more sustainable tomorrow.
As a Youth Ambassador, you have the great learning opportunity to participate in one of the clusters where you will discuss challenges for your respective subtopic and draft a policy paper that outlines solutions. You may also have the opportunity to present your policy paper alongside your cluster members at a hearing with national parliamentarians from your Cluster’s target country following the conference. The cluster work will take place in three stages. Stage one consists of approximately four online meetings and workshops in September and October, to get introduced to the conference concept, meet your fellow YAs and Head of Cluster, get familiar with your cluster subtopic, and learn about writing policy papers. Stage two will be the in-person meetings at the German-Baltic Conference in Vilnius (24th - 27th of October, 2024) where you will discuss your subtopic in person and begin drafting your policy papers. Stage three takes place following the conference, where you will be expected to work with your cluster online to finalize your cluster paper and prepare for a national parliamentary hearing. This year we aim to hold hearings with each of the national parliaments (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Germany) where a select few of you will present your work to members of parliament, having a very direct influence on national decision-making. These hearings are set to take place between November and January. Furthermore, these policy papers, with recommendations for our common future, will also be shared more widely with decision-makers on the local, national, and EU-level via email and other DBJW events.
For taking part in the conference, a fee of participation of 40€ ( – if you are living in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, Rumania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia or Turkey) or 80€ (– if you live in the rest of Europe) will be required. For the participation fee, you will receive compensation of up to 200€ in travel expenses in addition to free lodging and catering during the conference. (In case of financial difficulties, please contact us!)
Youth Ambassadors need to be between 16 and 30 years old, have their current residency in Europe, and be fluent in English.
Do you want to become a Youth Ambassador? Then fill out the
by 11 August 2024, and let us know about what motivates you to become part of this amazing experience. If you have any questions, contact Alexandra: a.ehresmann.dbjw@deutsch-balten.de
Share your ideas with us because #EuropeShallHearYou
