Laptop with Ground Up and The Europe We Want stickers

We want to engage young people in conversations about the Irish Presidency of the EU Council which begins in July 2026.

4 mins read time
Published: 12th March 2026
Blog by Sinéad Roche

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Join us at ‘Ground Up Conversations: The Europe that we want’

In April 2025, Oxfam Ireland hosted Ground Up, a two-day Climate Justice Forum in University College Cork. We were joined by a broad range of people from different communities, who imagined what a just and sustainable future looks like.

Now in 2026, we are going all around Ireland with “Ground Up Conversations: The Europe that we want”.

Taking the learnings from last year, we are arranging a series of workshops on the theme of “The Europe that we want.” We want to engage young people in conversations about the Irish Presidency of the EU Council, which begins in July 2026.

Can Europe be a force for good in the world?

Where is the EU heading when it comes to advancing human rights, justice, peace and equality for all?
Will Ireland be able to influence the direction of Europe when it holds the EU presidency later this year?

We’ll be exploring these questions and more. Expect engaging conversations, knowledge sharing, networking and free food!

Where: will these ‘Ground Up’ conversations take place?

Leinster: Dublin

When: Saturday 28 March, 10:30am – 1:30pm. Food will be provided!

Where: Trinity Business School, Room Room 4.35

Spaces limited

Munster: Cork

When: Monday 30 March, 4-7pm. Food will be provided!

Where: University College Cork, Main Campus, The Hub, Dora Allman Room

Spaces limited

Connaught – Galway

When: Tuesday 14 April, 2 - 5pm. Food will be provided!
Where: University of Galway, Irish Centre for Human Rights, Seminar Room.
Spaces limited

Ulster: Donegal

Coming soon

These workshops will give young people the chance to shape a shared vision for the future of the European Union and influence decision makers directly. Through participating in these workshops, you can help shape a series of recommendations and priorities for the Europe that you want to see – “A Manifesto for Ireland in Europe.”

Later this year, selected youth representatives will bring the manifesto to policy-makers in Leinster House in Dublin and the European Parliament in Brussels, supported with training and opportunities to engage directly with decision-makers.

Would you like to come with us to Brussels? Then come to one of the workshops for a chance to be selected as one of the youth representatives!

If you’re a young person aged 18-35 who wants to learn more about the EU Presidency and have your say on the future of Europe!
We particularly want to hear from grassroots activists involved in global justice movements such as climate activism and justice for Palestine.
We particularly welcome individuals facing socioeconomic, ethnic-racial, and gender-based vulnerabilities.

Each “Europe that we want” conversation around the country will consist of a three-hour workshop
Participants will get a chance to hear from a panel of experts and activists about some of the key justice and equality issues which are critical right now across the EU.
Participants will then get a chance to debate and discuss the issues in small groups. Inspired by Ireland’s citizen assemblies, we’ll use a participatory and deliberative format. Everyone will have a chance to raise their voice and shape our youth manifesto.
Free Food will be provided – with a space to socialise, connect, debate and build our networks and movements.

Oxfam Ireland will pull together the priorities from the four workshops into one youth manifesto - “A Manifesto for Ireland in Europe.”
A selection of youth representatives from the workshops will get a chance to present the youth manifesto recommendations to policy-makers in Dublin and Brussels. They’ll be given training on how to influence decision-makers and then brought on a visit to Leinster House in Dublin and also a visit to European Parliament in Brussels later in 2026.

These workshops are part of an EU-funded project, the YOUNITE project, of which Oxfam Ireland is a member. YOUNITE aims to embed a lasting culture of participatory democracy among young people and other citizens in Spain, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, Greece, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany by fostering civic engagement, expanding participation opportunities, and increasing the impact of youth perspectives in public policies.