Youth Stories That Push the Conversation Forward ( Spain),Caritas Stakeholder Meeting

Caritas gathered its team on 23 September 2025 to review the three winning videos from the Youth for Peace in the Mediterranean video contest. The meeting took place in person and created a focused space for discussion. María Isabel Rodríguez and Elena explored how each video reflects the project’s values and how young creators express their ideas about peace.

The meeting aimed to understand the videos, not to praise them blindly. The team watched each production carefully and questioned how the stories shape public understanding of peace across the Mediterranean. The videos sparked thoughtful reactions because they mix creativity, emotional honesty, and direct messages from young people who live in different cultural realities.

The first reaction relied on simple observation: each video carries strong storytelling and a clear sense of purpose. The young creators address cooperation, empathy, and dialogue in a way that feels fresh. The videos speak with intention, not with empty slogans. They connect personal experiences to wider regional issues and show how youth creativity can open conversations that adults often avoid.Short moments in the videos reveal strong emotions. Other scenes show calm reflection. This mix created an engaging atmosphere during the meeting.

What Stood Out the Most

The discussion highlighted several strong elements:

• The message in each video stays sharp and easy to follow.

• The young creators speak in their own voice and keep their stories honest.

• The storytelling pulls the viewer in with emotion and clarity.

• The visual and technical quality strengthens the message instead of distracting from it.

• Cultural diversity appears in a natural way, not as decoration.

• The tone stays constructive and encourages action instead of fear.

• Local stories grow into a shared regional vision for peace.

Reflections from the Meeting

The team raised no concerns about the videos, but this does not mean that improvement is impossible. It only means the videos reach their purpose. The participants agreed that the contest offers strong tools for education and community dialogue.They also recognized that every viewer may interpret the stories in a different way, which is actually an advantage. A good video invites questions, and these videos do exactly that.

Next Steps

Caritas plans to use the videos to enrich its local activities with young people. The team will integrate them into workshops, awareness sessions, and public events. The videos will support ongoing conversations about peace, cooperation, and youth leadership in the Mediterranean.The meeting ended with a shared understanding: these videos do more than show creative work. They offer a window into how young people think, feel, and imagine a better region.