Inklusives Europafest

Inclusive Youth Information Award category

Title of the Project

Inklusives Europafest

Organisation

Centre Français de Berlin

WEBSITE

https://centre-francais.de/

Project link

https://centre-francais.de/newsletter/newsletter-locale-juin-2025-fdm/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DLP2OC5ITNs/?img_index=12

Project dates

2025-06-21

What is it about?

On June 21 2025, the Centre Français de Berlin (CFB) hosted a new edition of the « Fête de la Musique », an annual cultural event originally created to make music freely accessible to all in public space. Organised every year at the CFB, the event is conceived as an open European music festival and youth event. In 2025, a specific focus was placed on inclusivity within the framework of a Franco-German-Polish partnership on inclusive sport. This focus shaped the overall concept of the event, designed as an « Inklusives Europafest » highlighting accessibility, diversity and equal access across all activities.

The project primarily targets young people and families from the surrounding neighbourhood of Wedding. Particular attention was given to groups often underrepresented in cultural spaces, including local residents with limited financial resources, people with disabilities, families with migration backgrounds and passers-by unfamiliar with institutional youth offers.

Our music programme featured francophone artists from different countries as well as a Polish DJ, reflecting European cultural diversity. Moreover, as part of the inclusive sport partnership, supervised wheelchair basketball was offered, allowing young people to experience accessibility in a playful and non-stigmatising way. A family-oriented children’s programme was also implemented within a training in intercultural youth animation led by the CFB. Aspiring intercultural youth workers from France, Germany, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco designed and facilitated interactive games and linguistic activities for younger guests, some encountering Arabic calligraphy and French-German games for the first time.

Finally, multiple information points provided accessible, multilingual guidance on youth mobility and exchange opportunities, helping to reduce inequalities in access to international experiences.

Free entry, use of public space, inclusive design, diverse partnerships and sustainable event management form the methodological backbone of the project, creating an inclusive environment where differences are recognised and valued.

How is this project relevant to the specific category?

Every aspect of this project was designed to ensure that all young people, regardless of socio-economic background, language, or ability, could take part and feel welcome. This Inklusives Europafest specifically targeted a broad range of participants, including those who are often underrepresented in cultural or international contexts. The event took place in the northern Wedding neighbourhood, an area with few cultural offerings, and was thus accessible to local youth and families who might otherwise have limited exposure to these opportunities. Furthermore, inclusive activities, such as supervised wheelchair basketball, allowed participants of all abilities to take part in the event. Linguistic inclusivity was a key element as well: rather than focusing solely on French, multilingual workshops, concerts, and interactive games in French, German, Polish, and Arabic promoted linguistic and intercultural diversity.

The event was structured to allow first encounters with foreign languages and intercultural exchange in a playful environment, fostering curiosity, while also having dedicated information points that offered direct, accessible guidance. Informal activities such as multilingual games, concerts, and wheelchair basketball help “break the ice”, create a first contact with foreign languages and cultures, and spark curiosity about international exchange. Once participants are engaged and comfortable, dedicated information points provide concrete guidance and access to opportunities. Bringing these methods together in a single event ensures that a wide range of young people not only feel included and confident but also leave with practical knowledge about the international mobility opportunities available to them, making the experience both enjoyable and informative.

What was the impact of the project?

The project had a clear impact on young people by providing first encounters with new languages and cultures through games, music, and interactive activities led by intercultural facilitators. These experiences promoted communication, curiosity, and confidence, fostering both linguistic and cultural openness. Young people also gained access to new opportunities and networks, including information on European mobility programmes. Moreover, activities such as supervised wheelchair basketball enabled young participants with and without disabilities to play together in a non-stigmatising, playful environment, demonstrating accessibility and fostering meaningful interactions across abilities.

Furthermore, the « Fête de la Musique » at the CFB has become a cherished annual event for Berlin’s Francophile community, many of whom are familiar with the « Fête » from France and celebrate the start of summer at our centre each year. Beyond this loyal audience, the festival is explicitly designed as a neighbourhood event, inviting local residents from Wedding, as well as passers-by. For the neighbourhood, the festival brought vitality and a sense of shared space. Offering affordable food, outdoor activities, and a festive atmosphere created a low-threshold cultural experience that welcomed all. The event thus reinforced a feeling of community and neighbourhood ties.

In sum, the « Inklusives Europafest » at the CFB promotes inclusion, first encounters with new languages, sharing, network creation, opportunities for young people, and accessible cultural participation, while nurturing neighbourhood life and a broader sense of European belonging.

Did the project have any green focus?

Demonstrating our commitment to sustainability, the « Fête de la Musique » at the CFB has, for the third consecutive year, been awarded the Greener Fête label, being one of the few venues in Berlin to receive this recognition. This reflects our deliberate efforts to minimise the ecological footprint of the event. Key measures included resource-efficient catering, strict waste separation, and the use of energy from renewable sources. We also implemented sustainable mobility management for both the daily operation of the CFB and the local and international transport of artists. By integrating these eco-friendly practices into every stage of planning and organisation, the festival combines inclusivity and festivity with environmental responsibility.

How did you ensure Eurodesk's visibility in your project?

As Eurodesk multipliers, the CFB provided accessible information on youth mobility opportunities. Eurodesk’s logo was displayed at our information point and mentioned orally during the event, ensuring strong visibility of its resources for international exchanges. In addition, Eurodesk was explicitly acknowledged and promoted through our communication channels, including our newsletter, Instagram and LinkedIn posts, as well as a dedicated YouTube video. More broadly, we conveyed Eurodesk’s values by promoting European mobility, inclusion and intercultural exchange, with the aim of empowering young people to build confidence, overcome informational barriers and take their first steps towards international mobility.

Inclusive Youth Information Award category