Lakshya Raj

We are incredibly honoured and proud to share that our project “ATHENA— Advancing Women’s Leadership in Inclusive Democracy” has won the national title for the European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2026, awarded by the European Parliament and the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen.🇪🇺 This year’s winners were selected from an exceptional pool of 531 projects across Europe — and with ATHENA, EUnexus now carries Estonia forward to the European stage.🇪🇪🤍 Remarkably, EUnexus has now been recognised with the European Charlemagne Youth Prize for two consecutive years (2025 & 2026), highlighting the consistency and depth of our work in strengthening youth participation across Europe. It shows a sustained commitment to building clear, accessible pathways for European youth to engage with policy-making, institutions, and public life, helping create more representative, inclusive, and participatory democratic systems. Thanks to our participants for their work, and to @ep_tallinn (the European Parliament Office in Estonia) for your continued collaboration and support. Thanks to Lakshya Raj (@avyanshh - President, EUnexus) and Hanah Lahe (@hanahlahe - Member of the Estonian Parliament) for their roles in leading ATHENA and strengthening youth representation in institutional spaces. We also extend our sincere appreciation to our project panellists and speakers — Kadri Tali (@talikadri , Member of the Estonian Parliament), Karin Öövel (@karin_oovel , Coordinator of Youth Programs, Harno), Simon Usifo (@simonusifo , CEO, BBDO Germany), Emma Neugebauer (@emma.neugebauer , The European Correspondent), Merle Saviauk (@merlesaviauk , President, BPW Estonia), and the @feministlawclinic representatives (@lilith.rn & @lilian.vnry ) for being part of ATHENA’s meaningful journey. Finally, we extend our deepest gratitude to @euroopanoored.eu for standing with us throughout- your trust and continued support truly mean a lot to us.🇪🇪🙏🏻 Onwards and upwards!✨🇪🇺

SOTEU2025: It was an honour to be invited as part of a selected delegation of content creators recognised by the European Parliament, to take part in the State of the European Union Address - a defining democratic moment of the year. As part of the visit, we met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen @ursulavonderleyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola @roberta.metsola , who underlined the impact of creators and the place we hold in carrying Parliament’s work back to citizens. Alongside this, the seminar included sessions with the Parliament’s spokesperson, directors, and social media team, as well as one-on-one conversations with MEPs on Ukraine, energy security, trade, technological independence, and social fairness- discussions that reflected the depth of Europe’s agenda at a time of uncertainty. This year’s address looked ahead to a “new Europe”- built on unity, independence, and resilience. It called for stronger leadership in defence, technology, energy, and democracy, renewed the Union’s commitment to Ukraine, and set out priorities for competitiveness, fairness, and climate resilience. It was a privilege to share this space with fellow creators and independent journalists who bring Europe’s story into the everyday, strengthening trust and defending democracy. Thank you to the European Parliament @europeanparliament for the honour, and to @ep_tallinn for your trust. Representing my beloved Estonia across European and global stages is not merely an honour, but a privilege I hold with pride. 🇪🇺🇪🇪🤍☀️

It’s amazing how much you can get if you quietly, clearly, and authoritatively demand it☀️ Winning the European Charlemagne Youth Prize for Estonia has been one of the most humbling and unforgettable chapters of my journey!🤍🇪🇺🇪🇪 To the Charlemagne Prize Foundation @karlspreis_ac , the European Parliament @ep_eye , and the city of Aachen- thank you for this incredible honour.🥰 And to every person who believed in me, my work, and stood with me in the messy, stubborn pursuit of change: this is yours too!💖 Godspeed!💫 📸: The kindest, @chris_vth 🫡 Opening Quote- Meryl Streep

Forever etched in my memory!🇪🇺🎖️🙏🏻 Being awarded the prestigious European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2026 in Aachen felt like a lifetime of conviction condensed into one moment. I want to deeply thank- the European Parliament @europeanparliament @ep_eye and the @karlspreis_ac -International Charlemagne Prize Foundation for believing in EUnexus’ work (@eunexus.ee ), recognising its purpose, and granting one of Europe’s highest honours. My sincere gratitude to the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola (@roberta.metsola ) ; Vice-President of the European Parliament, Sabine Verheyen (@sabineverheyen ) ; President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen (@ursulavonderleyen ) ; and the many incredible women whose leadership continues to inspire a world where women shape institutions and lead with strength. As someone who believes in European values, unity, and spirit - this is far more than an award. It is one of the greatest honours of my life🙏🏻 Deeply grateful. Deeply honoured🇪🇺🏅 @karlspreis_ac

A profound honour to be seated and felicitated alongside European heads of state and distinguished Charlemagne laureates as the European Charlemagne Youth Prize Winner 2026. 🏅 Thank you, Lord Mayor @michael.ziemons , for your warm welcome and excellent hospitality in the city of Aachen. The love Aachen has shown us is unmatched. The International Charlemagne Prize is one of Europe’s most prestigious honours, awarded to leaders who have made extraordinary contributions to European unity and cooperation. The European Charlemagne Youth Prize stands as its youth counterpart - recognising young people shaping the future of Europe through democracy, participation, and social impact. To lead @eunexus.ee on that same stage, among leaders we look up to and some of the most influential figures in Europe and the world, is a moment I’ll always carry with pride🏅 @karlspreis_ac 🫶🏻💝 @ursulavonderleyen @bundeskanzler @kyriakos_ @ediramaal @martinschulzspd @michael.ziemons @prezident.sveta @europeancentralbank @armin_laschet @stadtaachen @eunexus.ee @ep_eye @karlspreis_ac @ep_tallinn @germaniainitalia

What a tour de force!✨🏆 Our project “ATHENA - Advancing Women’s Leadership in Inclusive Democracy” has won the 1st Prize at the European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2026🇪🇺🙏🏻 What began as a commitment to strengthening women’s leadership and democratic participation has now been elevated to the highest European stage by the European Parliament (@ep_eye @europeanparliament ) and the Charlemagne Foundation @karlspreis_ac - and we are still trying to process the scale of this moment. ATHENA was built around a reality that still shapes Europe: too many young women continue to face structural barriers in political, civic, and institutional spaces, while also carrying limiting beliefs shaped by systems that have long made leadership feel distant, difficult, or inaccessible. Through the project, we worked to strengthen leadership, confidence, advocacy, democratic participation, and institutional engagement, so that more young women can shape public life with legitimacy, visibility, and power. We are deeply grateful to everyone who was a rock-solid part of this journey - our participants, decision-makers, diplomats, industry experts, and every person who believed in the vision behind ATHENA. We also warmly congratulate all the inspiring national winners from across Europe🌟. Standing alongside so many powerful youth-led initiatives has been an honour in itself.🫂 Thank you @europeanparliament , and @karlspreis_ac for this recognition. We carry it with immense gratitude, humility, and responsibility.💙🇪🇺

While on earth

left it in wilma wunder🫀✨

2026 – more rivers, mountains & taking pictures of the sky every time your heart feels full - & more. poems. love letters to life. linen shirts. live music & cold brew that reminds you of chocolate cream - & more. warm hugs. kisses. & the way it feels to let go. go. people. places. things. the space between where you’ve been and where you are. the place between reinventing yourself & reconnecting with all the things you used to love. love: dancing. singing. that feeling in your hands. when the sun touches your palm & your mortality seems small - & more. spontaneous flights to the ocean and mountains. slow, lingering brunches with friends. green fields. starlight. healing, after everything - & more. walks in the forest. postcards to the rain. smiling at strangers for no reason at all. no reason other than the fact that you’re here. alive.

We are incredibly honored to announce that our project, EYLEAD, has won the national title for the European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2025, awarded by the European Parliament and the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen!💙😍 Out of an incredible 635 projects, a total of 27 projects have been selected—one from each EU member state. EUnexus will represent project EYLEAD in Aachen at the Award Ceremony on 27 May, where the three European winners will be announced.🏆 The ECYP award recognizes youth-led projects that strengthen democracy and promote active participation. We are beyond proud that EYLEAD’s impact on leadership, civic engagement, and democratic participation has been acknowledged at this level.☀️ A heartfelt thank you to our EYLEAD participants, partners, and @euroopanoored.eu —this achievement belongs to all of you!💖🙏🏻 Onwards and upwards!✨

🧑🏻‍✈️This one was a promise to my 5-year-old me. On summer nights, we’d sleep on grandma’s rooftop. stars would fall, planes would pass, twinkling in the dark, and I’d stare, trying to make sense of it all. What’s life like on the other side of the sky? Could it ever be me? Two decades, and many wins, losses, bruises, blessings, trials, and tribulations later- if there’s one thing I’ve learned, is simple, almost boring in how true it is: you’re bound only by the limits you set yourself. Never give in to the world’s small idea of what you can or cannot do, just because in someone else’s narrative it doesn’t exist. Dare to own your truth. Trip, fail, taste the dirt more than once- but do so daring greatly. In the past 2 decades, as endearing and rewarding as life has been, it’s also been humbling in the difficult times. And so, every godly human who’s been there or crossed paths with me, and stayed or left, has shaped me in ways they’ll never fully know- friends, family, lovers, colleagues, strangers- I’m eternally grateful🙏🏻☀️ To that little boy under the stars- I kept my promise. I’m still with you, and I always will be. See you on the other side of the sky.✈️☀️🤍 Godspeed!✨ PS: And with that, may I answer once and for all, my dear ones: no, I’m not leaving EUnexus😮‍💨 May I be the most badass CEO, Captain, and human you can be proud of knowing☀️ though from now on, sometimes a little out of reach at 30,000 feet!

“We agreed in principle” – medieval diplomat, already marching troops