From 19 to 22 November, Brussels will host a week of exciting events organised by EU Neighbours South, showcasing the creativity, commitment and talent of young people from across the Southern Neighbourhood.

This includes the press trip organised as part of the Media Connect initiative in partnership with the Maharat Foundation. Eighteen journalism students, who have previously participated in intensive training in constructive journalism, will travel to Brussels to present their journalistic productions highlighting EU-funded initiatives. The young journalists will also enjoy a day of visits to institutions and the European Journalists’ Conference.

In the same week, the Connect Summit will take place, bringing together country coordinators from across the region and EU Jeel Connectors from different countries in a mixed format. This summit serves as both a reflection on the past year’s activities and an opportunity to shape the future direction of the EU Jeel Connect network and foster connections and innovation among youth leaders.

The week will culminate with the highly anticipated closing ceremony of the TANDEM Media and DigiArt Awards. With 228 participants from nine countries competing in categories such as Journalism, Photography, Academy, Art and DigiArt, the event promises to be a great celebration of talent. A total of 15 TANDEMs, consisting of 30 participants, will be present in Brussels to celebrate this momentous occasion. Six DigiArt finalists will be present, and on the day of the ceremony, a live vote will determine the winning TANDEM. The DigiArt Awards ceremony will be streamed live so that viewers can watch the unveiling in real time.

This week in Brussels will be a vibrant celebration of ideas, creativity and youth empowerment, honouring impressive stories and artistic innovations from the Southern Neighbourhood.