By Raphy Craigie and Charlotte Brunt, former students of Caxton College in Valencia and EYP Spain Delegates

European Youth Parliament (EYP) is, without a doubt, a perspective-altering experience. People often say this, but it really is a unique environment unlike anywhere else. It’s a space where you can both learn and grow, whilst meeting people from all walks of life. If we had to describe EYP in just two words, we would call it a safe haven.

Throughout the sessions we have attended, we have met so many incredible people from across the world, all united by a shared desire to make change. To us, that is one of the most beautiful things on Earth. Even when we didn’t always see eye to eye, there was always a spirit of respect and collaboration that allowed us to work together meaningfully.

The events were filled with experiences we never would have had in everyday life, such as meeting the mayor of The Hague and discussing current affairs, visiting the Europol headquarters In the Netherlands, speaking with representatives at the Spanish Embassy and taking part in many other engaging and eye-opening events. Each of these moments, alongside the people we shared them with, made each session not only unforgettable but also transformative.

But we truly had the experience of a lifetime this past July when we had the incredible opportunity to travel to Turku, Finland, to attend the 103rd International Session. Over nearly ten days, we met people from all over Europe, each with their own unique story and perspective. Together, we created an incredible atmosphere we'd never experienced before. We were tasked with debating the accession of new countries into the EU—a fascinating and timely topic that we thoroughly enjoyed discussing.

Throughout the session, we had many incredible opportunities, from watching panel debates with seasoned MEPs to drafting resolutions on some of the EU's most pressing issues. We then had the chance to debate these resolutions in a General Assembly, surrounded by some of Europe's brightest young minds.

This amazing experience was only made possible thanks to the dedication and support of Mr Springham and Ms Waite, who devoted countless hours to making sure we could live this journey.

For anyone thinking about attending an EYP session, we would definitely recommend it. It might just change your life.