Hi, I’m Pontus!

I am 21 years old, and I come from Ockelbo, Sweden. Currently I work as teacher’s assistant in my municipality, and I am committed in the board of the local ice hockey club, besides being also committed in volunteer work.

I am also a proud member of the YCT and the Charter because I like the way how people get a chance to see other countries, cultures and ways of living and meet new people as well.

All of this makes us youngsters feel to be part of something big, and makes us believe that we have a chance to make the difference in our municipalities, spreading knowledge to other youngsters about the EU and our projects, and on what the EU is, that is friendship and learning from others’ way of living.

I was born in Bacău and I currently live in Ibănești.
I graduated from the University of Mathematics and Physics in Iași in 1989 and since then I’m a math teacher. At the university I met my husband and we’ve been living in Ibănești, his hometown, since 1994. We have two daughters, Lavinia and Laura. Starting 2011, I’m director at the Ibănești Schools where I co-ordinate 465 students and 34 teachers. In addition to that, at the community level I’m involved in several cultural and social projects.

My first experience with the Charter was in 2008 when I attended a small meeting in Bièvre, Belgium. Since then, I have been to several meetings and I’ve made many friends all over the place. I think the Charter, with his unique spirit, is an extraordinary connection between us and I’m very honoured to be part of this wonderful community!

I live in Ottersberg, Germany, between Hamburg and Bremen in Lower Saxony with my wife Christine and our three children Jesper, Greta and Freda. Not to forget our cat Bo.
From 1999 – 2006 I worked as a lawyer. Since 2006 I’m working as a professional (fulltime) mayor in the Samtgemeinde Tarmstedt with 11.000 inhabitants. Hepstedt is one of eight communities in our Samtgemeinde.
My first experience with the Charter started in Stary Podvorov. I was very impressed! Since 01.08.2014 I am member of the presidium and since 2016 I am the treasurer of the Charter. It’s a nice job – really!

Evala!* My name is Marko. I was born in 1993 in then war-torn Croatia, a country that would wait twenty more years to become a rightful member of the European Union. Today, I’m proud of what both my country, and my local community, the Municipality of Tisno,
have achieved since the official accession to this big European family of countries in 2013. And active participation in the Charter of European Communities is for sure one of those things.

In July 2016, I joined Tisno’s delegation for the Charter’s annual meeting in Medzev, Slovakia, after which I became more actively involved in my local community. The latter allowed me to put all the knowledge and skills gained through studying English Language and Literature and Art History at the University of Zadar to use.

So far I have curated several exhibitions of some of Croatia’s most important artists in collaboration with prominent Croatian Art History scholars, translated Art History-related texts, and organized a number of cultural events in the Municipality of Tisno.

After being elected as the first president of the Friends of Europe Tisno Association in December 2018, I also became the first president of Tisno Youth Council established in February 2019.

Both of these positions allowed me to get
better acquainted with the problems and needs of my fellow citizens regardless of their age and social status, and to work on the improvement of life in my local community, which I perceive as a great honor, but also as an even greater responsibility.

My involvement with European matters, projects and meetings in the last couple of years led me to become a member of the Youth Co-ordination Team in late March 2019, which I consider to be a wonderful opportunity to contribute even more to the organisation and community that have definitely widen my horizons, and brought nothing but positive changes in both personal and professional life. Considering the latter, I will give my best for all the current and future members of our Charter family to experience the same, and perhaps join us in building common European future. 

(*Old Dalmatian greeting used when meeting someone)

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My name is Boy Scholtze. In 1991 I was born and nowadays I live in Biezenmortel, together with my fiancé. Biezenmortel is a small village, part of the muncipality of Haaren. Esch and Helvoirt are the two remaining villages in our municipality. In daily life, I’m a property developper. I have studied public administration and administrative law for couple of years, something which is very useful in my second job as council member and party leader in our municipality.

In 2007, I was invited to join a meeting in Bucine by Frans Ronnes. It was my first encounter with the Charter and it was an experience I will never forget. Coming home, I contacted the board of Friends of Europe Esch. I was wondering if there was a possibility to help them with attracting more youngsters to the Charter activities. Before I knew it, I became youth coordinator in the board! In 2008, Frans Ronnes and Helma van Drunen invited me to become youth coordinator of the Charter as a whole. Due to the new project system, there was an extensive youth programme containing several meetings. They asked me to coordinate the programme, to involve youngsters from all countries and to help standing up a new Charter generation. It was a very instructive period of my life and I am proud that the programme we had at the time, was awarded by the European Commission with the Golden Star Award.

Since 2017, I am chairman of Friends of Europe Esch. In June 2018, I have been elected President by the mayors and representatives of our 28 member villages. I feel honoured and privileged to execute this task together with the presidium and all members of our beloved Charter. “People meet People” is our slogan, our friendship is our most valuable asset. I am certain that, accompanied by good discussions and the exchange of experiences, we can help each other to a next level. Youngsters, adults, municipalities and ordinary Europeans. With respect for our differences, but most of all by cherishing our similarities.