Welcome! On this page you can learn more about EU-related projects in our German town of Detmold. Our hometown has a longstanding tradition of cooperating with its many European twin towns, creating a vibrant network of partnerships across Europe. Over the decades, this network has grown into a space for joint projects, cultural exchange, and shared ideas about our common European future.
Young people play a central role in these activities. Through international youth exchanges, school partnerhsips and projects such as GivEUvoice, they meet peers from other countries, discuss what Europe means to them and develop their own visions for tomorrow´s Europe.
To show what this looks and feels like, we let the participants speak for themselves. Here are some voices from young people involved in GivEUvoice from Detmold:
Here you can read the full testimonials of some of our participants for the GivEUvoice Project!
Mirijam
I am Mirijam (18) and I took part in two GivEUvoice events in Detmold and Bastia, and it was a really special experience for me. I learned a lot during the programme and had a lot of fun at the same time. Through different activities and group talks, I got to know many new people and their cultures.
One important thing I learned was how people from rural areas live and what challenges they face in their everyday lives. Listening to their stories opened my mind and helped me understand other perspectives better. I made new friends, shared many nice moments, and I will remember this experience for a long time. Thank you!
Laujaani
Hi, my name is Laujaani Sothilingam (17) and I am a high school student in Detmold, Germany. I encountered the GivEUvoice project through a teacher at my school, who is a European coordinator, since my school deeply values European partnerships alongside its diverse projects.
With GivEUvoice, I am participating in my very first youth project. Its support for international youth exchanges makes the project even better. At first, I was very doubtful about meeting people from other countries. However, my first-hand experience with the Campus in Detmold (July 2025) and the exchange in Bastia, France (November 2025), has now proved to me that these people have the same intentions as our 10-person German group had: connecting young people all over Europe.
I am very thankful to have met many people who I can now call my friends and I look forward to meeting even more people in the upcoming exchanges, as well as of course through GivEUvoice’s main product, the “European Youth Network”. One thing that I learned is that we can definitely achieve big things and make visions come true, as long as we put our minds together, share ideas, and listen to people’s stories to not only broaden one’s horizon but also view different perspectives. One’s origin, age or gender did not matter at all. Only trust, enthusiasm and commitment to our interests is what led us through the exchanges.
What I value most is how simple social interactions can shape your life in the most enriching ways, like when playing volleyball or card games, having dinner all together, telling stories and sharing experiences. With group talks and activities, I did not only get to know the differences in cultures but also realised how similar we all are. Thank you for this lifetime experience!
Henriette
Heyy, my name is Henriette, I am 19 years old and currently finishing high school. This project has been great in many different ways.
First of all, I consider exchange and communication all over Europe to be very important and also a lot of fun. Furthermore, it has been so great to meet everyone and to get to know so many different cultures. The project helped me to experience Europe personally and all the benefits the EU has to offer for me as a young person. During these two weeks in total, I found a lot of new friends and we developed very special connections. I was able to grow as a person and collected many unforgettable memories.
I am extremely grateful to be part of this project and I look forward to everything that is still to come.
