JEF Finland is honouring Eugenie Touma van der Meulen, an activist and artist, as the Young European of the Year.
Eugenie has done long-standing and commendable work to raise awareness of the situation in Palestine. They spoke up for the rights and self-determination of the Palestinian people even before the issue gained wider media attention, and have consistently brought it to the attention of Finnish students and young people.
Eugenie has spoken in favour of non-discrimination and anti-racism, peace and justice, and internationalism, and has highlighted how important it is for the voices of people with immigrant backgrounds to be heard in Finnish society.
“Eugenie has admirably drawn attention to injustices and worked for the causes that support the realisation of the EU’s core values. At times, even the EU fails to honour these values, and that is when people like Eugenie are essential in steering the course back in the right direction. By giving them this recognition, we lift up those who hold a mirror up to the faces of those in power,” comments Amanda Alvesalo, President of JEF Finland.
Eugenie Touma van der Meulen has studied harpsichord performance at the Sibelius Academy in Finland and neuroscience at the University of Helsinki. They are also a performing artist, writer and poet. They are currently a board member at SYL, the National Union of University Students in Finland, where they are the first international student in this position.
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JEF Finland is honoring Eugenie Touma van der Meulen (they/she), an activist and artist, as the Young European of the Year.
Eugenie has been recognized for their sustained efforts to increase awareness of the political situation in occupied Palestine. They have advocated for self-determination and justice for the Palestinian people even before it was prominently featured in the media and have consistently brought this issue to the attention of Finnish students and youth.
Eugenie has spoken in favor of equity and anti-racism, peace through justice, and internationalism. They have also emphasized the importance of hearing the voices of international students and immigrants in Finnish society.
“Eugenie has admirably brought attention to injustices and worked to advance issues that uphold the EU’s core values. Even within the EU, these values are sometimes overlooked, making individuals like Eugenie essential in steering the course back on track. By awarding her this recognition, we want to elevate those who hold a mirror up to those in power,” remarks Amanda Alvesalo, President of JEF Finland.
Eugenie Touma van der Meulen has studied harpsichord performance at the Sibelius Academy and neuroscience at the University of Helsinki. They also work as a performance artist, writer, and poet. Currently, they are a board member at SYL, the Union of University Students in Finland, the first international student ever to be elected to the position.
Further information:
Amanda Alvesalo
President, JEF Finland
[email protected]
+358 321 6600
