Hi there! I'm Taru (she/her), and I currently work as Communications and Advocacy Specialist at the YFU Global Office, which means I coordinate and oversee the work of the Pool of Representatives. I have been involved in EEE-YFU and its advocacy since early 2022. I've represented YFU in platforms such as the European Youth Forum and the Life-long Learning Platform. In the future I hope to see more partnerships with fellow educational organizations.
Pool of Representatives
As the voice of YFU organizations in Europe, EEE-YFU represents YFU in the European public arena, often in partnership with other youth organizations. Since 2009, the Pool of Representatives (PoR), a group of engaged volunteers, has actively supported the Global Office to ensure that YFU is well represented externally.
Joining the PoR
EEE-YFU offers volunteers the opportunity to represent YFU at the international level and further develop their knowledge and skills in international youth work, European policy, Non-Formal Education (including NFIL), and external representation.
As a member of the PoR, representatives have the chance to represent YFU at seminars, meetings, conferences, and other events and structures at the European and international levels.
BECOMING A REPRESENTATIVE
Representatives regularly represent YFU with specific institutions and often need a high level of involvement and availability. They regularly follow policy-making in fields relevant to YFU and actively seek opportunities for engagement and partnerships. Additionally, they support YFU's mission at the national level through national advocacy efforts. Representatives are also expected to report from activities and when possible, to disseminate the information on national and international levels.
The newly elected PoR members in 2024 are: Fanni Toth, Felix Vosse, Ronja Hildebrandt, Sanni Granqvist, Siret Siim, Trine Tamm, and Yasin Bulat.
Additionally, the Pool welcomed observer member Jules Geoffroy.
The Pool's mandate runs from November 2024 to November 2026.
Meet current representatives
Taru Granholm
Riikka Pasanen
Hi! I'm Riikka (she/her) and currently I serve as a Member of the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe on the 2024-2025 mandate. I am a member of the Programming Committee on Youth, which means I work closely with the European Youth Foundation supporting youth civil society with funding. I have also been the main delegate for EEE-YFU at the European Youth Forum since 2021.
Sebastian Lindt
Hey! I'm Sebastian (he/him) and I've represented EEE-YFU in the EU Youth Dialogue and the European Youth Forum. I am also part of the Life-Long Learning Platform portfolio within the PoR.I come from Germany but currently live in Brussels. I am passionate about policymaking, and currently work as a Policy Ofifcer in a health NGO.
Felix Vosse
Hei! I’m Felix (he/him) and I am supporting our Council of Europe and European Youth Forum portfolios within the PoR. I am German and live in Berlin, where I am currently attending acting school. I have a master’s degree in political science and have worked professionally in advocacy for two years in the past.
Sanni Granqvist
Hi everyone! My name is Sanni (she/her) and I‘m involved with both the European Youth Forum and EU Youth Dialogue. I also get to work together with Taru and Yasin in the PoR Communications Team. I come from Finland and just moved back to Helsinki after almost six years abroad — it‘s good to be back! In my daily life, I‘m busy working on my master's in European and Nordic Studies, learning more about the EU institutions and policymaking.
Ronja Hildebrandt
Hey everyone! I’m Ronja (she/her) and I’m working in the Individual Pupil Mobility and Recognition and in the European Youth Forum portfolios in the PoR. I am from Germany and am also living there, studying European Governance in Osnabrück. With my studies being in this field, and also my work in the International Office in university, I get to spend a lot of my time connected to the Erasmus+ program and enjoy to learn more about education policies.
Siret Siim
Hi! My name is Siret (she/her) and I represent EEE-YFU in the Council of Europe. I’m also working on the UN portfolio. I come from Estonia but am currently living in Amsterdam where I’m doing my Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and Governance. I’m passionate about civil society organisations, meaningful representation and bringing people together regardless of their background.
Yasin Bulat
Merhaba, Hi everyone! My Name is Yasin (any/all), I am supporting the Individual Pupil Movility and European Platform for Learning Mobility portfolios in the PoR. I am Turkish and currently live in İstanbul. I graduated university with a degree in education with a focus on education policies, multiculturalism and multilingualism. I've been in youth work since 2019 and currently work for a national youth NGO, running a youth center. Besides work, I am interested in art and comedy and have an educator's crush on Paulo Freire and bell hooks.
Trine Tamm
Hi! I’m Trine (she/her) and I’m working on the UN portfolio for YFU, but have previously also represented EEE-YFU on the European level. I’m born and raised in Estonia, where I currently reside as well. While my educational background is international relations, I’m currently working on the quality assessment and assurance of Estonian continuing education and microcredentials.
Fanni Toth
Hey, I am Fanni (she/her) an I represent YFU at the Life-Long Learning Platform, EU Youth Dialogue and the UN. I come from Budapest, Hungary, and this is where I currently live. I have been passionate about advocacy for some years, I've started volunteering at UNICEF as a youth ambassador in highschool. Currently I have just finished my bachelor in psychology and I'm in the application process for further learning opportunities