Come and be part of the biggest event in the YFU world
The Youth Empowerment Seminar is looking for the next Core Team to carry on the magic into 2026.
The Youth Empowerment Seminar is looking for the next team to carry on the magic into 2026. The YES is a unique opportunity for our exchange students to reunite with old friends from all over the world and make new ones, creating a bridge between the exchange year and the YFU volunteer life. It’s a fun learning experience where students explore what it means to be a citizen of the world through interactive learning activities. The international team of volunteers creates a unique spirit and an unforgettable experience for everyone at the YES.
In 2026, YFU will celebrate its 75th anniversary, an extraordinary milestone that broadly coincides with the creation of the post-World War II global order. Following the devastation of war, world leaders forged international institutions, established alliances, and created frameworks for cooperation to ensure peace and stability. Amidst these monumental efforts, YFU and its founder from Michigan, USA pioneered a unique and enduring form of soft diplomacy: intercultural student exchange. This vision recognized that lasting peace is not only built through treaties and policies but also through the everyday acts of kindness, hospitality, and understanding shared between ordinary people. As the YES 2026 takes place during this special anniversary year, particular attention will be given to celebrating this milestone alongside the overarching theme that will be further defined over the next few months. The anniversary will serve as both a moment of reflection and a source of inspiration, highlighting the lasting impact of YFU’s mission and how it continues to empower young people to shape a more peaceful and connected world. In 2026, the YES Educational Team will also be part of the “Empower to Participate” Training Course - co-funded by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe. The EDU team will be engaged in a learning process focused on tackling discrimination, promoting civic and democratic behaviour among young people, and raising awareness on the importance of youth participation in society. These topics will be integrated into the tracks of the YES 2026, ensuring that the EDU team is better equipped to deliver high-quality educational content. More details on how this training relates to each EDU role at the YES can be found in the role descriptions. This training course financially supports the participation of the EDU team at the YES, and represents a great opportunity for YFU trainers to upgrade their skills.
The YES 2026 will take place 22 - 26 June 2026 in Germany, at Werbellinsee. All volunteers, except IGLs, will be requested to arrive to the YES on Saturday, 20th June, and depart on Saturday, 27th June.
The Leadership Team
The Leadership team is composed of volunteers in the most central leadership positions at the YES. This team has the overall responsibility for the YES, ensuring coordination, quality, and cohesion across all areas of the project as well as the strategic development of the event over time.
The Leadership team has the following responsibilities:
Strategic and executive responsibility of the entire YES project through the full project cycle (ca. 12 months), including maintaining a crisis response plan and coordinating security measures.
Coordination of the YES Volunteers’ Team, especially the core team members, including selection, team leadership, mentoring, the arrangement of preparatory work and meeting(s), and acting as responsible contact persons for reporting abuse or harassment.
Implementation of the strategic direction for the YES advised by the YES Advisory Group and YFU Global Office.
Evaluation of the YES as a whole in addition to their respective areas of responsibility.
Leadership Team Roles
Project Coordinator: Arianna Caggiano. She works in the Global Office, makes sure volunteers are empowered to organize the event, ensures the event is aligned with the YFU Global Strategy and is in charge of the budget.
Head of Logistics: Ieva Dirvonskaite. Ensures that logistically the YES runs like a well-oiled machine, volunteers and students are empowered to enjoy the content without worrying about sorting out practicalities, the schedule is clear and all participants are safe.
Head of Community: Call closed. Ensures volunteers are motivated and builds the YFU Spirit in the hearts of our team, leads the Spirit Activity Coordinators and Lounge Coordinators, facilitates all preparatory and all-volunteer meetings as well as the Common Activity at the YES. Read the full role description here.
Head of Content: Call open. Coordinator of the EDU, IGL and plenary sessions. Ensures high quality and comprehensive content at the YES, taking care that track sessions, IGL sessions, and plenary sessions are aligned and designed in a timely manner. The Head of Content, alongside the Educational Activities Coordinators, is one of the trainers of the training course designed for the EDU Team, co-funded by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe. More details in the role description. The Head of Content participates in the 1st, 2nd, and EDU Prep meetings. Read the full role description here.
Do you want to be part of the amazing team making this event happen? We are recruiting right now!
If you feel like you do not have enough experience yet, or simply not enough time on your hands, there will be another call for volunteers later this year - for positions, which require less experience and less time commitment, but are a crucial part of the YES Volunteer Team. Below you can find more information, including the timeline for all volunteer recruitment.
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First Prep Meeting
September - November 2025. Date to be confirmed.
Participants: Project Coordinator, Head of Content, Head of Community, Head of Logistics, Educational Activities Coordinators; (ideally) Media Team Coordinator.
EDU prep meeting
3-4 days in January 2026, dates to be confirmed.
Participants: Head of Content, Educational Activities Coordinators, Heads of Track.
2nd prep meeting
March - April 2026, dates to be confirmed.
Participants: Project Coordinator, Head of Content, Head of Community, Head of Logistics, Educational Activities Coordinators, IGL Coordinators, Hosts, Operations Coordinators.
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Be over 21 years old.
Have an advanced level of English.
Have enough time to dedicate to the planning of this event - the preparation required will be extensive and take a lot of time and dedication. Please make sure you are available on the above-mentioned dates for the prep meetings.
Attend regular online meetings from September 2025 to July 2026:
We usually have 1.5 hour meeting once per month taking place between 5-8 pm CET;
for other team meetings, 2-4 times a month, dates and timing subject to specific team agreement.
Available to attend in-person preparatory meeting(s) in Europe (likely requires taking time off work / studies, see above for more information).
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If you feel like you do not have enough experience yet, or simply not enough time on your hands, there will be another call for volunteers later this year - for positions, which require less experience and less time commitment, but are a crucial part of the YES Volunteer Team. Here’s a timeline for all volunteer recruitment:
1st wave August (deadline 31st August 2025)
Selection results published by the end of September
Head of Community, Head of Content, Educational Activities Coordinators (Junior and Senior), Media Team Coordinator.
1st wave September (deadline 30th September 2025)
Selection results published by the end of October.
Heads of Track, YES Hosts, Social Media Manager, IGL Coordinators, Travel Coordinators, Operations Coordinators.
2nd wave Dec-Jan (deadline TBD)
Selection results will be published by the end of January. IGLs’ selection results will depend on the final decision of Member Organizations and the total number of students.
Counsellors, Lounge, Freestylers, Track Leaders, Spirit Activities Coordinators, IGLs.
No open call for 2025
Head of Logistics, Tech Team, Database Support, Photographer, Videographer.
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The YES will cover all costs for selected volunteers according to the travel policy outlined below, except for IGLs, whose costs are fully covered by their respective Member Organisations (MOs).
The YES will only cover economy class travel and carry-on baggage, so any checked in luggage will have to be covered by you, unless otherwise agreed. Travel must be arranged to Berlin on the dates indicated on the website. Unfortunately, we are unable to cover any additional costs. Please note that, due to funding rules, longer stopovers in other countries or cities are not allowed.
Guidelines
As we strive to lower our carbon emissions, we encourage volunteers to adopt sustainable means of transport, where possible.
If your travel distance from home to Berlin is less than 750 km and you opt for green travel*, you will be reimbursed up to 300 EUR. If your travel distance from home to Berlin is less than 750 km and you travel by a non-sustainable means (e.g. plane), you will be reimbursed up to 250 EUR.
If your travel distance from home to Berlin is between 750 km and 2,500 km, you will be reimbursed up to 350 EUR.
If your travel distance is more than 2,500 km, you will be reimbursed up to 500 EUR. Please note that in this case only, if your travel costs exceed the amounts allowed by our policy, we will contact your Member Organisation (MO) to ask if they are willing to cover the difference. However, if your MO is not able to cover the additional costs, you will be asked to cover the difference yourself. It is important that you accept these conditions during the application process.
All travel distances must be calculated using the official EU Distance Calculator. Please note that this policy applies only to the main trip from your home country to Berlin. Any costs related to local transportation (e.g. from the airport or train station to the YES venue) will be fully covered by the YES.
*According to the European Commission, “Sustainable means of transport (green travel) is defined as the travel that uses low-emissions means of transport for the main part of the travel, such as bike, bus, train, or car-pooling”.
The Core Team
The Core Team constitutes the group of volunteers who come together about 9 months in advance and offer leadership to the task-specific YES teams, ensuring the content and logistics of the event are well executed. Their responsibilities and contributions shape the YES in a significant way.
The roles that are part of the Core Team include the following responsibilities:
Coordination of a group of volunteers (selection, leadership, mentoring).
Strategic collaboration with the leadership team and other task-specific teams or roles.
Long-term preparation for their tasks at the YES (around 9 months).
Implementation of strategic changes and pilot projects for their area of responsibility as agreed upon with the Leadership team.
Evaluation of their area of responsibility at the YES.
Implementation of knowledge management processes through the YES Playbook to ensure continuity and learning transfer.
The aim of the Core Team is to ensure a high-quality experience for both students and volunteers at the YES. The group is formed of YFU volunteers from all over the world and starts preparing for the seminar already in the autumn before the event. Participating in this team requires a significant time commitment and dedication, while at the same time giving these volunteers the chance to considerably shape and leave their mark on the event.
Core Team Roles
In addition to members of the Leadership team, the following roles are also part of the Core Team:
Media Team Coordinator: Call closed. Overview of all YES communications. Coordinates the media team (Social Media, videography, photography) and ensures an engaging visual and social media presence for the YES that is aligned with the GO strategy, the YFU Brand and (co-)funder guidelines. The Media Team Coordinator will receive initial guidance from the Communication and Advocacy Specialist of the YFU Global Office. Collaboration with the Project Coordinator is expected. Taking part in the 1st prep meeting is recommended. Read the full role description here.
Educational Activities Coordinators: Call open, two roles (Junior and Senior). In charge of coordinating and mentoring the Heads of Tracks, responsible for Track Leader orientation and ensuring that all participants receive quality educational content in the YES tracks. The Educational Activities Coordinators are the trainers of the training course designed for the EDU team and co-funded by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe. The Educational Activities Coordinators participate in the 1st, 2nd and EDU prep meeting. Read the full role description here.
Two IGL Coordinators: Call open, two roles. Coordinate the single largest team of volunteers, International Group Leaders (IGLs). Supports the well-being of IGLs and delivers educational content to students through orientation sessions at the YES. The IGL Coordinators participate in the 2nd prep meeting. Read the full role description here.
Two Operations Coordinators: Call open, two roles. They are the engine of the YES, taking care of the operational side of things with the support of the Head of Logistics, coordinating the Freestylers, handling the YES Info Desk and much more. The Operations Coordinators participate in the 2nd prep meeting. Read the full role description here.
Two Hosts: Call open, two roles. In charge of the Plenary Sessions at the YES, which happen twice a day. A visible role that gathers everyone to the same room to deliver fun & inspirational content. Hosts are in charge of aligning the plenary sessions with the overarching YES theme and the YFU 75th anniversary, making important announcements to students, and identifying suitable guest speakers. Hosts also participate in the 2nd prep meeting. Read the full role description here.
While not part of the core team, we’re also already recruiting for:
Heads of Track: Call open, 4 or 5 roles. Leading their team of track leaders to design and deliver sessions in their track. HOTs will deliver sessions as well. EDU prep meeting only. Read the full role description here.
Travel Coordinators: Call open, 2 roles. Responsible for ensuring students’ smooth travels to the event. They will work closely with the Head of Logistics. Instead of attending any prep meeting, they will arrive in Berlin 3-4 days in advance of the YES. Read the full role description here.
Social Media Manager: Call open. Helping promote the YES to participants, volunteers, and other stakeholders through Instagram and other marketing materials. During the YES, interacting with the YFU community, sharing the most important events that are happening and engaging with them. Read the full role description here.
We typically don’t select volunteers who don’t put an effort when they apply. See what we consider to be a good application on our blog.