What does a fiercely competitive quiz, contemporary European political issues, 120
young people and stylish reusable cups all have in common? They all came together
at this year’s European Youth Parliament (EYPUK) Autumn National Session,
themed around sustainability. This year’s theme, Soaring Together: Progressing
Towards a Sustainable Future, set the tone for the entire session. This was more
than just a catchy title, it shaped every aspect of the event. Naturally, we reached out
to Huskee, makers of beautifully sustainable reusable cups. We were delighted when
they agreed to sponsor the event by donating 12 of their 8oz cups which we used as
prizes for the most quiz-savvy participants at our European Quiz Night.
As a dedicated Huskee cup enthusiast, reaching out to them was an obvious choice.
Their commitment to reducing single-use plastics through their sleek, reusable cups
aligned perfectly with our vision for the event. Their donation helped keep our event
in line with its sustainable ethos, and let’s be honest - the promise of winning a
Huskee cup brought out some fierce competition during the quiz, from pupils and
teachers alike!
What is EYPUK?
For those of you unfamiliar with the work of EYPUK, we are a non-partisan, UK
registered education charity that works with young people aged 16-25 to develop
their critical thinking, academic and interpersonal skills. We do this through our
Regional Debating Forum and our two annual flagships events - our National
sessions. These National Sessions are held in Liverpool and are a five-day affair
bringing together over 175 participants from all over Europe, 120 of whom are 16-18-
year-olds selected from Regional Forums across the country.
During our National Sessions, our participants take on the role of European policy
and decision makers by writing and debating resolutions in the same style and
procedure as the European Parliament. Our sessions are more than just an exercise
in debate; they are an opportunity for young people to engage with pressing global
issues that impact them. This year, the focus was on sustainability, with committees
discussing topics such as efficient rail travel across Europe (TRAN - Committee on
Transport and Tourism) and sustainable agricultural practices (AGRI - Committee on
Agriculture and Rural Development).
Participants spend the first two days of the conference discussing and researching their chosen topic, facilitated by other young people from across Europe, before spending the final two days debating all the resolutions created. This process, modelled on the workings of the European Parliament, encourages cooperation, consensus building and compromise - essential lifelong skills!
Practising What We Preach: Sustainability in Action
Our commitment to sustainability extended well beyond the debates. We actively
encouraged all participants to bring reusable coffee cups, like a Huskee cup, and
water bottles, thereby eliminating the need for single-use plastic cups and mugs. We
also made sure that there was plenty of oat milk available during the numerous
coffee breaks, to encourage participants to make the sustainable switch!
But it wasn’t all serious discussions and debates. In the evenings, participants took
part in our Cultural Programme, designed to highlight and celebrate the cultural
diversity of Europe. A particular highlight was the European General Knowledge
quiz. You may think you know a lot about Europe, but when the competition involves
guessing countries based on passport pages, things get interesting! Especially when
coupled with the chance to win a coveted Huskee cup!
A Heartfelt Thanks to Huskee
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Huskee for their generous donation.
Their reusable cups were not just an eco-friendly prize; they were emblematic of the
values we aim to uphold at EYPUK events - innovation, sustainability and the hope
of a greener and brighter future. It is safe to say that the cups were highly sought
after and highly appreciated by those lucky enough to win one!
Huskee’s contribution helped us to not only create an event that discussed and
explored the challenges of sustainability, but also encouraged participants to adopt
practical solutions in their own lives. We are immensely grateful for their support and
look forward to continuing this partnership as we work towards a more sustainable
future.
Here’s to building a better future, one Huskee cup at a time!
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