2026 Youth Prize for the European Network socioMovens
The 2026 Youth Prize of the Peace of Westphalia goes to the organization "socioMovens – Giving Europe a Soul." With roots in Central and Eastern Europe, this international youth network has for many years been dedicated to social responsibility, European understanding, and the promotion of a values-oriented youth culture. Through international youth camps and social project weeks, socioMovens conveys to young people the vision of a Europe characterized by solidarity and peace, thereby connecting in a unique way with the ideals of the Peace of Westphalia.
"The organization socioMovens gives Europe a soul," says WWL Chairman Dr. Reinhard Zinkann, citing a phrase coined by former EU Commission President Jacques Delors—a phrase that has since become the guiding motto of the network's work. Since 2013, socioMovens has brought together young people from various European countries to collectively assume responsibility for a humane society and to actively help shape the future through shared engagement.
At the heart of this work are social and ecological project weeks, implemented in collaboration with local church institutions and numerous volunteers. These projects are developed in cooperation with the socioMovens Foundation and the Kommende Dortmund—the social institute of the Archdiocese of Paderborn. The work is further supported by the international partner association, socioMovens e.V.
During these project weeks, the young participants experience firsthand the value of community, solidarity, and mutual respect. Through experiential education and informal learning, they engage with societal challenges and discover that personal commitment can contribute to greater justice, peace, and social cohesion. Beyond the individual projects themselves, the young people remain connected with one another through local initiatives and within the broader European network of socioMovens.
The laudation for the 2026 Youth Prize laureates will be delivered by Cardinal Michael Czerny, the Holy See’s Undersecretary for Migrants and Refugees. He ranks among the most prominent humanitarian voices of the global Catholic Church and has advocated for solidarity, human dignity, and international responsibility for many years.