President of Universidade Católica participates in debate with German First Lady
The President of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa was among the guest speakers at the Bürgerfest, or Citizens' Festival, an annual event hosted by the German President at his official residence in Berlin, Bellevue Palace, to celebrate civic participation and citizenship.
Isabel Capeloa Gil took part in a debate on ‘Giving hope to young people in times of crisis’, whose panel of speakers also included the First Lady of Germany, Elke Büdenbender, the Chairwoman of the Otto Group's Board of Directors, Petra Scharner-Wolff, and the State Secretary of Rhineland-Palatinate, Heike Raab, and was moderated by actress Hadnet Tesfai.
Equal opportunities in access to education, quality training at all levels of education – from primary to university – and learning the respective language from an early age were identified as essential conditions for giving hope to young people. The speakers also referred to the importance of understanding the social circumstances surrounding education, especially in crisis situations, such as in Ukraine, the Middle East and some regions of Africa.
‘Education is hope for these children, hope that life will go on and that the war will not last forever,’ said German First Lady Elke Büdenbender.
In the opinion of the President of Católica, young people have some difficulty understanding reality due to a lack of language and reading skills. ‘This starts in schools and then continues in universities. We have students who are technically competent but lack understanding. Mastering the technique of reading does not mean that one has access to reading reality,’ she explained.
During the debate, the impact of digitisation on education, the effects of mobile phone use in schools, the dangers of social media and the use of artificial intelligence were also analysed. In this context, Petra Scharner-Wolff and Heike Raab highlighted the role of parents and educators in helping the younger generation to contextualise and manage the large volumes of information they constantly deal with and reminded us of the importance of parental control over the consumption of digital content.
All participants agreed that educating in an environment that fosters self-esteem, courage and hope requires the involvement of everyone, parents and educators, both inside and outside school.
"We are talking about hope and trust, and also about the idea that Europe has a future. There is a feeling among young people that they are not being listened to enough by politicians, that the cost of living, the housing shortage and income prospects may not match their ideals. We have a fantastic generation, university-educated, creative, but who feel that something is missing," said the President of Universidade Católica.
‘It is the responsibility of our generation, which now holds leadership positions in universities, countries and companies, to use this energy of youth to build a better future and listen to them. I believe it is very important not to tell them what to do, but to listen to them and work on it,’ she stressed.
Isabel Capeloa Gil was part of the delegation accompanying the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who made an official visit to Germany to also participate in the ‘Bürgerfest’, a free event designed for all ages, which aims to strengthen civil society and reinforce social cohesion, highlighting voluntary work and civic engagement among citizens. Held in the gardens of Bellevue Palace over two days, it offers a diverse programme with themed stands and activities on different stages, such as concerts, dance performances, reading sessions and debates.
By decision of the current President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Portugal was the guest country at this year's event, thus having the opportunity to showcase its culture and heritage.