We are a group of young people who are convinced that youth participation is and must be an essential component not only of a functioning democracy, but also of a value-driven foreign and security policy. For us, this includes implementing the UN Security Council’s agenda on youth, peace and security both at national and international level. However, Germany is lagging behind in its implementation at federal policy level – and we want to change that!
We are young volunteers who contribute our many years of experience working in and with various youth associations and organizations as well as international volunteer positions. Our professional and academic backgrounds are also diverse – but we have one thing in common: we are passionate about youth policy issues and youth participation at eye level.
The Board
Carolina Claus
I’m Caro, 30 years old and I recently completed my PhD at the University of Flensburg. Here I dealt with the topic of educational equality from an international comparative perspective. In line with this, I have been involved in voluntary work over the past 10 years, especially in international youth work, and have been active at various levels in the Flensburg District Sports Youth, the State Sports Youth of Schleswig-Holstein and the German Sports Youth, as well as in the State Youth Council of Schleswig-Holstein. I have been particularly committed to the topics of educational and gender equality, mental health and strengthening democracy, and was also able to do this as co-chair of the G7 Youth Summit in 2022. I am now looking forward to working with the others on the topics of peace and security!
Benjamin Günther
My name is Benjamin, I’m 31 years old and I’ve been working as a project manager at the Goethe-Institut since 2022. I have been active in international youth work since 2015 and came into contact with the topic of YPS both during my time in the external representation of the German National Committee for International Youth Work and on the board of the European Youth Forum. Through my work in interregional cooperation with youth organizations from numerous regions of the world, I came into contact with the YPS agenda early on and have been even more involved with this topic since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In my free time, I play guitar, various board games or go running.
Antonia Kuhn
Hi, my name is Antonia, I’m 29 years old and I’m currently completing my legal internship at UNHCR in Nairobi. Youth, peace and security has been a topic close to my heart since my time as a youth delegate to the UN General Assembly in 2018 – and unfortunately the topic has become more topical than ever since the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine. When I’m not thinking about war and peace, my favorite thing to do is travel across Europe by train.
Lisa Mastiaux
Hi, I’m Lisa, 27 years old and I work as an administrative assistant for a young MP in the NRW state parliament. I have been involved in voluntary work since 2019, particularly in international youth policy. As a member of the external representation team of the German National Committee for International Youth Work, as a delegate to the G7 and G20 Youth Summits and as a Youth Fellow in the International Youth Think Tank. The Agenda for Youth, Peace and Security has accompanied me throughout this time and I am delighted that we can join forces for this important topic through the association.
Max Zuber
Hi, my name is Max, I’m 27 years old and a trainee lawyer. The topic of youth, peace and security plays a role in my life at various points: through lectures and workshops, but also in exchange with various associations and ministries, we try to make the important role of young people for peaceful communities more visible. This is particularly important in Germany. In addition to youth work, I like to spend my time playing sport.