In the context of the European Section class, we had last year a chapter about three Sustainable Development Goals which deal with climate change, access to water and sanitation and also gender equality but in a very large scale and we saw how these issues could be treated and seen differently on how some countries are more impacted from them  : for example sea level rising and floods in Bangladesh. 
This is why, we had a project called “Connected Schools” with the NGO Friendship, created in 2002 by Runa Khan, a Bangladeshi woman involved for her country, for her people, their education, their future and mostly she worked  her whole life to find solutions about the impact that climate change had and has even now in Bangladesh. 
As I said, this project was linked with another, because the European Parliament hosts bi-annually in Strasbourg, more than 9000 young people (from 16 to 30 years old), that come from all the world for an event called “EYE” which means “European Youth Event” and gives them the opportunity to talk about the future European Union we are creating for our generation, the impact of global warming on our societies, gender equality, political and economic crisis all around the world or how young people could be even more involved about the different issues we are facing and that we will probably face in the future. 
So, with the precious help and support of my Euro teachers (Mr. Arbid and Ms. Chabrot),  I joined the first selections for this event and I was finally chosen to participate to this amazing project with Friendship NGO, three girls from Bangladesh, a group of students from Ardèche and Diana a girl from Ukraine, a good friend of mine. 

Short interview : 

1. So Leonela, you left your friends and familly in June to go to the European Parliament in STRASBOURG ? 
Yes, I went to Strasbourg last June for the EYE project, which lasted two days. At first, I didn’t believe it because it seems very impressive but exiting at the same time so when Mr. Arbid told me that I will go there, I was extremely happy because I knew this would affect a lot my view for the future and I knew I would finally be able to share my options and experiences. 

2. How does it feel to take part to such an event ? 
Like I said before, it’s a big event, with a lot of people but I took this as an opportunity to discover the European Parliament, to be involved as much as I can, like I am usually but in a different place and context, with different people and for different issues. I can say that this was an amazing experience, changed a lot in my perception of political and social commitment as a young girl. 

3. Do you believe it could help us somehow to face the main challenges of the 21st century ? 
I think that we are living in a generation that is facing major issues and they will probably follow us forever but I am seeing that young people are so much interested and committed for these like gender equality, global warming, how some people are dealing with for example natural disasters or geopolitical conflicts in a multiscale approach. So, I completely and truly believe that creating safe environments and places to share and talk for everyone, would help us a lot to maybe face the main challenges of our century.

4) You're now in Terminale in DELORME, some projects of partnerships are about to start again this year (with Bangladesh, Chile or Macedonia). What do you think about it and according to your personal experience, what advice would you give to the pupils involved in these projects ? 
According to me, these projects are what will change minds and this is an incredible opportunity to give young people and students in our school.  
And, I would never stop saying this because meeting other people, with different or even completely opposite cultures, languages, thoughts, religions, ways of life and different perceptions of the world are the most enriching experiences we could have in our lives. This allows people to create social links, to share, to talk and to think of a new and better world together. 
If I can give an advice to the pupils involved for these projects is to be bold, you have to show who you really are, what you thoughts are about something, so don’t be ashamed of asking questions, of talking with new people and just trust yourself if these are the things you want to be involved in and everything you want to achieve in your life.  
I have always said that if we allow communication between people, we allow understanding, we allow tolerance and finally this creates an union between the citizens of this world. 
 
• After this amazing event, I decided to be even more involved by being a new member of the Together European Union community which was created to raise awareness among young generations for several issues like democracy, wars in the world, climate change, etc…by organizing meetings with political figures like Ursula von der Leyen the President of the European Commission, for this week. 
 
Finally, I wanted to thank a lot my European-Section teachers Ms. Chabrot and Mr. Arbid for always supporting us in these projects, giving us the opportunity to participate to them and allowing us to express ourselves for these major issues. 
 
Written by Leonela Arifaj, TG1.