Helsinki España has today launched in Madrid a new edition of the Youth for Youth 2026 programme, an educational and volunteer initiative that this year brings together 85 university students committed to building a more just, sustainable, and inclusive society.
The opening session and first training day are being held at the School of Industrial Organization (EOI), with the support of the Ministry of Social Rights, and mark the beginning of a learning pathway focused on key issues for the present and future of our society. The programme addresses topics such as human rights, the environment and sustainability, gender equality, migration and refuge, cybersecurity, the healthy and conscious use of mobile phones, applications and technologies, diversity and inclusion, addiction prevention, and mental health.
The programme combines specialised training with direct social action. Volunteers not only acquire knowledge and practical tools, but later pass them on to children and adolescents in educational centres, creating a multiplier effect that contributes to prevention, values-based education, and the strengthening of community networks.
“Youth for Youth is not just a training programme; it is a transformative experience that turns university students into agents of change within their own communities,” said María Jaén, President of Helsinki España.
This opening session in Madrid represents the first milestone of the 2026 edition of the Youth for Youth programme. Throughout the academic year, the project will be implemented in most of Spain’s autonomous communities, consolidating its nationwide reach and its educational and social impact in universities and educational centres across the country.
With 25 years of experience, Youth for Youth has become one of Helsinki España’s flagship programmes in the field of global citizenship education and youth participation. Over the years, thousands of young people have taken part in the initiative, actively contributing to the defence of human rights and the promotion of a more aware, critical, and engaged society.
Helsinki España would like to thank the supporting institutions, the technical and training team, and all the volunteers whose commitment makes it possible for education, social awareness, and transformative action to continue moving forward hand in hand.
