Christine Angel Galicano, YCW Philippines

I felt proud, grateful, and deeply inspired to be part of this historic milestone. Seeing young workers from different continents in one place made me realize that our struggles may be different, but our spirit is the same. I had the chance to speak with many participants, share my personal journey of why I joined YCW, and listen to theirs. Every conversation reminded me that our movement is built by ordinary young people with extraordinary courage. I also felt the warmth of being guided by collaborators who walk with us — they play a vital role in helping young people stay focused, grounded, and supported in their mission.

The workshops were very meaningful, especially the one about the Christian characteristics of YCW, which reminded me that our work is not only about rights and campaigns but also about living our faith in action. I also enjoyed the informal moments where I could talk to participants one-on-one, exchange realities, and learn from their contexts. One thing that stood out was realizing that the exchange in Passau, Germany, is different from the Philippines — Germany has more structured in organizing in young people from universities, while in the Philippines we face unstable jobs, low wages, and fewer protections. These differences reminded me why solidarity is so important.

I learned that the movement needs different kinds of leadership: the energy and passion of young members, and the wisdom and experience of collaborators to guide and mentor us. I also understood that fundraising is not just about collecting money — it’s like building a house. If we want YCW to grow stronger, we need a solid financial foundation. This means creating sustainable ways to support our activities, from local projects to international exchanges, so that we can keep training young leaders and reaching more workers.

Personally, I became more confident in speaking publicly and sharing my YCW story, even with people I had just met. Politically, it strengthened my commitment to help my local movement think more strategically about finances — not just relying on outside support, but also building from within. The discussions about different realities also helped me see how we can adapt YCW’s mission to each country’s unique challenges, while still keeping the same values and vision.

Your story, your voice, and your actions matter. Whether you come from a place like Germany with strong worker protections or from the Philippines where we face more challenges, our mission is the same — to fight for dignity, justice, and hope for all young workers. We need collaborators to guide us, we need solidarity to keep us united, and we need to strengthen our finances like building a house — brick by brick — so our movement will stand strong for the next 100 years.