Through her activism, our young member Aurora has inspired many young people to be brave, share their opinions, and fight for justice and equality. Her example shows that standing up for what is right and using your voice can make a real difference in the world.
Born and raised in the multicultural city of Vilnius, Aurora has witnessed the struggles young people face, like figuring out their identity, dealing with stereotypes, and making sure their voices are heard in important decisions.
The EU Children's Participation Platform has been especially important as it gives young people a space where they are not only heard but listened to. It is also where Aurora has met many people who have motivated and inspired her along the way.
A better future for everyone
In 2024, Aurora took part in many projects to share her messages of change, in addition to being Student Council President at her own school. For instance, about 200,000 people watched Mokonomika, the largest online class in Lithuania, where she was the youngest speaker.
She joined the Vilnius Region–2050 discussion at an international conference in Warsaw, where she talked about the future of the Polish community in Vilnius with other activists. Aurora is also actively involved in youth activities around the European Union through the European Youth Team.
A few more of Aurora’s activities and achievements in 2024:
- Spoke about youth and the internet on the Potekstės podcast
- Independently organised an inter-school talent show with six Polish schools
- Earned a bronze award in the international DofE program
- Represented Lithuania, and helped organise and moderate the Platform’s Create, Plan, Participate meeting in Brussels
Art for change
Aurora is also using art to create social change. She is part of the Young Programmers group at Meno Avilys, where they make film programs for festivals that focus on important social issues. She also acts in the youth play Robczik, which looks at the search for identity among young Polish people in Vilnius.
Aurora cares about helping the Lithuanian and Polish communities understand each other better, so she directed, wrote, and designed the costumes for Kameleon: A film about the challenges teenagers face when trying to find their identity in a multilingual world.
She is strongly committed to equality and sees art as a powerful way to start important conversations and bring change to society. Her advice is simple but powerful:
"The key to success is constantly stepping out of your comfort zone."
Aurora encourages others to push themselves, try new things, and take on challenges to grow and reach their goals. The Platform is so lucky to have her!