BRUSSELS, Belgium — The 2nd Youth Understanding Politics (YUP) was hosted by 2008 Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Summer Institute (BFTF) alumni in Belgium August 2-12, 2010.  The alumni are hosting 36 youngsters from six European countries to inspire these participants through intercultural dialogue, debate, and conflict-resolution  to initiate positive change in their communities.YUP is a summer exchange program initiated by BFTF alumni to facilitate mutual understanding in Europe and to ensure a concrete continuation of the ideals of the BFTF program. YUP unites 36 participants from six different countries, including Germany, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Belgium and Slovenia. Designed after the BFTF program, YUP is geared towards 15 to 18 year old European students who are interested in debating and politics. This year, there was a BFTF alumni mentor from each participating country involved, as well as one from Macedonia.

The YUP project was funded by the European Commission Youth in Action program and by the U.S. Embassies in Slovenia and Belgium. The program was implemented in cooperation with the Young European Federalists (JEF) and Europe Direct. The BFTF alumni who organized, obtained funding, and hosted the group include Line Kuppens from Belgium; Patricia Weykopf from Germany; Lilia Feghiu from Moldova; Andreea-Ramona Onofrei from Romania; Monika Sobocan from Slovenia; Anna Shelestun from Ukraine; Damjan Denkovski from Macedonia; and Vildana Karalic from Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Click on the following links to view their photo gallery and video.