by Sanja Mancheva, Club Alpbach Macedonia Board Member

Sanja Mancheva’s experience at the European Forum Alpbach gave her the courage to speak up, connect across borders and open new doors. Her story reflects how Western Balkans youth are reimagining cooperation and influencing Europe’s future.

Finding My Voice at the European Forum Alpbach

Before the European Forum Alpbach (EFA) was just an incredibly beautiful place on a map to visit. After EFA, it became the home of my network, full of brilliant faces, bold ideas and lasting friendships. Somewhere between hiking with politicians and fireside chats with business leaders, I realised that the future of our region cannot be decided for us, it must be shaped by us.

I’m Sanja from North Macedonia and I’ve attended the European Forum Alpbach (EFA) several times as a board member of Club Alpbach Macedonia. For those unfamiliar, the European Forum Alpbach is a two-week gathering in the Austrian Alps where students, policymakers, scientists, business leaders and artists meet to imagine Europe’s future. Think of the world’s most inspiring conference, a summer school and a music festival, all combined. And then some. As part of Voices from EFA, I am sharing how my own journey from North Macedonia to the Austrian Alps changed the way I see collaboration, opportunity and our role in Europe’s future.

Why EFA Matters for Young People

At EFA, young people sit on panels, lead workshops and speak directly with decision makers. And we don’t just talk about “youth issues”. We contribute to debates on energy policy, migration, artificial intelligence, security and finance. The Forum hands you the microphone and whether you take that chance is up to you, but once you’ve spoken into it, it’s hard to go back to silence.

Building the Western Balkans Network

One moment will always stay with me. In 2022, our newly reestablished Club Alpbach Macedonia, learned that the FAN annual Spring Conference would be in Skopje. We had been around for only a few months. The network barely knew us and we barely knew the network.

In May 2022, about 40 of our colleagues arrived in Skopje for the annual event. Over the course of several days, we planned EFA’s program for the year, explored how to diversify FAN’s and EFA’s audiences, discussed logistics for the next gathering, and brainstormed ideas for a new visual identity, among many other topics.

On the last day of the conference, we were all standing in the garden of a small Skopje restaurant, saying tearful goodbyes to people who had given us so much trust and support. Our club representatives spoke about the laughter, the conversations, the friendships that had formed. That day, our club was no longer just a mission to accomplish, it was part of the community. Every Western Balkans club has a story like this. Over the last four years, the EFA team has visited most of our countries, listening to how they can support us better.

In the Western Balkans, collaboration can be a bit complicated by history and politics. But within the Forum Alpbach Network (FAN), we’ve found common ground. We coorganise events, apply for projects together and yes, dance through Balkan nights at EFA. The region has representation on the FAN board and a contact person dedicated to us. We hold joint meetings to share progress and address challenges. At every FAN conference and during EFA, the agenda includes an official meeting for Balkan clubs with the FAN board representative. For example, at the last conference in Brno, Czechia, we gathered over lunch: CA Belgrade shared the good news of finally resolving their bank account issues, while CA Kosovo presented a particularly impactful event they had organised. We discussed scholarship selection, application quality, and other clubs shared their priorities.

Opening doors beyond Alpbach

EFA opens international doors, especially for young people. It shows you that no matter someone’s title or position, they are reachable if you have something to say. That is a rare and precious thing. After 80 years, EFA is still working to keep youth at the heart of the Forum. I’ll be attending the full two weeks of the Forum again this year, and I’m super excited to join working groups, help raise awareness about Gaza by organising protests, fireside chats and an exhibition. To finally meet our scholarship holders in person after months of online preparations. For the first time, I’ll also be a buddy to five first-time participants who aren’t part of any club, helping them navigate the Forum. For the third year in a row, I’m serving as an Aware Friend, working to keep the Forum safe and inclusive. And of course, I can’t wait to reconnect with representatives from the other 32 clubs!

Personally, EFA has connected me to two other remarkable networks, simply through conversations in Alpbach. I was invited to take part in the Base Camp at the Lucerne Dialogues, which later grew into a project initiative and brought me many new friends and a yearly invitation to a great networking event. I was also invited to join the CEE HER initiative and became part of its database, connecting me with inspiring women such as Sanam Shantyaei (International Affairs Correspondent, CTBTO-UN), Sintija Oskalne (OSCE), Karoline Edtstadler (Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution, Austria), and former Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, all of whom shared open, honest conversations about careers and personal growth. Its biggest gift to me has been confidence. I realised that decision-makers actually need us if they want real progress. Whether “us” means youth, women, people from a specific country, or simply each individual with a perspective to share. I saw that everyone is approachable, and the key is to be prepared and bring something of value to the table, whether it’s a challenge or an idea. That understanding gave me the courage to move through spaces differently.

Shaping Europe’s Future at EFA

And yet, while EFA has given me so much personally, I know it can do even more for others in my region. We need more space, more speakers from the Western Balkans in the official program, more discussions on our region and more scholarship spots for our youth. Our region has no shortage of talent, ideas or ambition. When Western Balkan participants speak, we bring perspectives that often go unheard in Brussels or Vienna. We have so much to offer, but we need more platforms like EFA, because unfortunately it cannot be everything to everyone. We need more  spaces where history is acknowledged, but the future is built together. This work must continue far beyond Alpbach. If we truly want a united Europe, then the voices from its edges must be strong enough to be heard at its center.

About EFA:

The European Forum Alpbach (EFA) is a unique meeting place for reflection and action. Each year, it brings together young people from across Europe and around the world with leading thinkers and practitioners from politics, business, civil society, culture, and science. Through its diverse, intergenerational, and interdisciplinary community, the Forum sparks new ideas, fosters collaboration, and influences decision-makers across the continent, working towards a strong, inclusive, and democratic Europe.

In our Voices from EFA series, we highlight how young leaders from the Western Balkans are shaping ideas, building networks and influencing Europe’s future.