Paris, 17 june 2025
On June 10th, CEM and its consortium partners International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation (IYMF), JEF Europe, and the Hippocrène Foundation had the pleasure of hosting the Ode2Joy – Up2Date! event at the JEF Europe offices in Brussels. Funded by Erasmus+, the project brought together 55 participants — from high school students to experts in civic education, European projects, and arts education — from both Belgium and France.
Ten students from 9th and 10th grade at the Institut Jeanne d’Arc in Montrouge, accompanied by two of their teachers (the school principal and a history-geography teacher who also serves as cultural coordinator), met with 21 Belgian students in 10th and 11th grade from the CESEER Institute in Etterbeek, who were also accompanied by their teachers (specializing in French and philosophy/citizenship).
This cross-border encounter was made possible thanks to the four consortium partners, who also invited representatives from various civil society organizations engaged in the Ode2Joy-Up2Date! project. Among the attending partners were Ariana Mix’Art, the Collective for a European Civic Service, Europa Nostra, Afev, Europod, Lifelong Learning Platform, the Council of Europe Foundation, and Carano4children.
The day unfolded in three key stages:
It began with a roundtable on the universal power of music and its ability to raise awareness among young people about European citizenship. This was followed by a conference that revisited the history of Ode to Joy, Beethoven’s legacy, and the enduring values this iconic piece represents.
The day continued with creative and choral workshops centered on Ode2Joy, designed as pilot sessions to test out ideas that will later be implemented in classrooms from September to November — involving both students and teachers.
Partners and educators also took time to reflect on the importance of building a toolkit for teachers, to help them teach the story and values of Ode2Joy in engaging, playful, and innovative ways — fostering a deeper understanding of European citizenship through art.
Finally, the group gathered in the public space of the European Parliament for a workshop exploring the relationship between art and democracy.
A rich and inspiring day, full of ideas and exchanges — and above all, one that looked resolutely toward the future of Europe… with music leading the way, of course!
The Ode2Joy challenge 2025 is still open - send us your submission! Let your creativity sparkle. More information is on ode2joy.eu
Photo by Boris Jancen.
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