EuroPeers at CIOST 2026: Bringing Youth Voices into the Future of Communication

From 18-22 May 2026, EuroPeers were proud to participate in CIOST 2026 (Communication & Information Officers Staff Training), hosted by the Cyprus National Agency IDEP in Larnaca, Cyprus.

Bringing together communication officers from National Agencies across Europe, CIOST provided a valuable space for learning, exchanging ideas and discussing the future of European youth programmes.

This year, the EuroPeers network was represented by:

• Almut Röder (Germany & Austria)
• Luise Haiden (Austria)
• Emma Grabow (Germany)
• Denisa Porumboiu (Romania)

together with Kai-Ines Nelson, International EuroPeers Coordinator.

Sharing the EuroPeers Story

Throughout the week, EuroPeers contributed to discussions on youth participation, communication and the role of young people in shaping the future of Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps.

One of the highlights was the presentation of the EuroPeers 20 Years Campaign, a celebration of two decades of peer-to-peer communication, European experiences and youth engagement. What started as a social media initiative inviting current and former EuroPeers to share their stories evolved into a commemorative booklet bringing together memories, reflections and personal journeys from across the network.

The booklet was first presented during the EuroPeers Annual Meeting and has since become a symbol of the connections, opportunities and friendships created through the network over the past 20 years.

Working with Young People in the Digital Era

EuroPeers also facilitated an open session titled:

“Working with Young People in the Digital Era: Between AI and Erasmus+ Stories.”

The session explored how young people increasingly use artificial intelligence to search for information and opportunities, while highlighting the continuing importance of peer-to-peer communication and real-life experiences.

Participants reflected on the opportunities and challenges that AI brings to youth information and discussed why authentic stories remain essential when helping young people understand what programmes such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps can truly offer.

The session encouraged meaningful conversations about how youth networks and National Agencies can continue to provide trustworthy, experience-based information in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Reflections from the International Network

For Kai-Ines Nelson, International EuroPeers Coordinator, CIOST 2026 represented an important milestone and a valuable opportunity to strengthen connections between the EuroPeers network and National Agencies across Europe.

“As my first CIOST experience, I was incredibly grateful for the warm welcome into the CIOST family and for the opportunity to take part in discussions about European youth work. It was inspiring to see the genuine and growing interest in the EuroPeers international network, with more countries expressing their desire to learn about and join the movement.

After 21 years, it is exciting to see that EuroPeers continues to grow and that young people’s voices remain as relevant as ever. CIOST provided a unique opportunity to meet, learn, exchange ideas and network with colleagues from National Agencies while exploring how youth engagement can remain meaningful and effective in the AI era.

I am especially thankful to our fantastic EuroPeers team, Almut Röder, Luise Haiden, Emma Grabow and Denisa Porumboiu, who represented the newly established EuroPeers Working Groups. Their curiosity, commitment, experiences and energy enriched the discussions and demonstrated the strength of peer-to-peer engagement across Europe.”

Communicating European Opportunities Through Stories

For Denisa Porumboiu, Social Media Content Creator for EuroPeers International, participating in CIOST was once again a meaningful experience:

“This was my second time attending CIOST, and I truly believe it is an incredible opportunity for a young person to be part of such a space. For me, promoting European opportunities is about much more than creating social media posts. It is about every EuroPeer who goes into their community, shares their story and encourages others to take part in European programmes.

That is the impact we hope to create: reaching young people with fewer opportunities and those who may benefit most from the learning, personal growth and international experiences that European programmes can offer.

I am grateful to have had the chance to participate in CIOST and engage with communication and information officers who work every day to make these opportunities visible and accessible. Events like this remind us that communication is not only about information, it is about creating connections, inspiring participation and making opportunities feel real for young people.”

Thank You, Cyprus!

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to IDEP Cyprus for hosting this year’s edition of CIOST and for creating such a welcoming, inspiring and collaborative environment.

Thank you for five unforgettable days filled with learning, exchange, new ideas and meaningful conversations.

We look forward to continuing the dialogue, strengthening partnerships and ensuring that young people’s voices remain at the heart of European opportunities.