A jury consisting of Czech MEPs and a representative of a youth organization chose the "Speechless Reconciliation" project as the winner of the national round of the Charlemagne Prize for Young Europeans for 2023. Speechless Reconciliation helps young people who are transitioning from a children's home to an independent life. The award is given annually to projects that promote the common idea of Europeanness and mutual understanding based on democratic values such as respect for human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights.
 
The Speechless Reconciliation program was established in February 2021 with the aim of helping young people aged 16 to 21 from children's homes and homes for children without proper parental care in the transition from their home to independent life by organizing development camps and subsequently offering opportunities for personal and professional development through online platform. "The project aims to give these young people a chance for a better future and prevent them from falling into the circle of poverty or, for example, social exclusion," describes project founder Matěj Keka. "What characterizes the Speechless Reconciliation program is that it tries to provide hope," he adds.
 
One representative of each winning national project will be invited to the award ceremony of the Charlemagne Prize for Young Europeans, which will take place on 12 May 2023 in Aachen. As part of the ceremony, three European winners will be announced, selected from national winning projects by a European jury consisting of members of the European Parliament and representatives of the Foundation for the International Charlemagne Prize in Aachen. The three winning projects will receive a cash prize of €7,500, €5,000 and €2,500. In addition to the financial award, the European winners will be invited to visit the European Parliament in Brussels or Strasbourg.
 
Context
 
The Charlemagne Prize for Young Europeans is awarded annually by the European Parliament together with the Foundation for the International Charlemagne Prize in Aachen to young people between the ages of 16 and 30. The winning projects promote understanding in Europe, develop the idea of European identity and integration, encourage young people to get involved in European democracy or present real examples of Europeans living together in one community. Among the award-winning projects from previous years were, for example, youth exchange programs or art and internet projects with a European dimension.
 
On this link you can find winning projects from the preivous years.
 
Additional links:

• Website with the list of the winners of the national rounds of the Charlemagne Youth Prize 2023

 

• International Charlemagne Prize Foundation in Aachen