In 2026 it can feel as if the whole world is on fire: conflicts on every continent, a climate crisis with growing human cost, poverty still shaping lives, migration becoming a dangerous and sometimes life-threatening route, and human-rights violations occurring day after day.

How do we keep Fair Trade and the ecological, social and economic rights that come with it, on the political agenda? How do we motivate citizens of all ages to act with us? Should we join forces with other movements and aim for a ‘movement of movements’? And are young people the key to a renewed wave of Fair Trade and human-rights activism or is an intergenerational approach the way to go?

These are the questions that the organisations and initiatives in this session are grappling with too. They’ll share how they put activism into practice and invite you into an open exchange about what works.

With contributions from:

• Soraya Namavar and Rosalie Buytaert, project officers of Oxfam Belgium explain their Change Program and Activist Track, a successful project for young people to spark their activism.
  Oxfam Belgium is a global movement of people fighting against inequality to end poverty and injustice. Within this movement the youth and mobilization team focuses on youth from age 16-35. Through various projects that consistently provide information—but present it in an accessible, interactive way, they empower young people to become the engaged global citizens of tomorrow. Oxfam Belgium is a partner in the Fair Towns Network in Flanders. 

• Students from the Green Team of the University of Brussels, VUB. (TBC)

• Lisa Herman, project officer of Fairtrade Germany, presents their Fair Activists Programme. The programme offers young people aged 18 to 30 the opportunity to actively engage in promoting a sustainable future and fair trade. Fair Activists contribute to the campaigning and advocacy work of Fairtrade Germany and implement their own ideas and projects. They take part in conferences, meet different stakeholders and connect with other activists internationally.

• More names tbc.