From 30 August to 5 September 2026, de Hoge Rielen Youth Centre (Belgium), a member of the Council of Europe Quality Label network for Youth Centres, hosted StudioStar 2026, an international youth exchange that brought together 50 young people aged 16 to 26 from Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Germany, Greece, Portugal and Romania for a week of learning, dialogue and creative expression. 

 The fourth edition of StudioStar focused on the prohibition of slavery, human trafficking and forced labour, drawing inspiration from the European Convention on Human Rights and encouraging participants to explore the relevance of these rights in contemporary society. Through non-formal learning and intercultural exchange, young people deepened their understanding of human rights while reflecting on their role in promoting human dignity and solidarity. 

 During the exchange, participants worked alongside professional artists and facilitators in a range of creative workshops, including music, screen printing, creative writing and performance. These artistic processes provided opportunities for young people to express their perspectives, share experiences and transform their reflections on human rights into tangible creative outcomes.

 StudioStar combined human rights education with artistic expression, creating a space where young people learned from one another across cultures, strengthened their civic competences and developed new ways of engaging with social issues.

The project was organised by de Hoge Rielen, Destelheide, Hanenbos and the Service National de la Jeunesse (Luxembourg), in cooperation with centres of the Council of Europe Quality Label network and with the support of Erasmus+ and the Council of Europe Youth Department.

As part of the continuing StudioStar initiative, the 2026 edition reinforced the commitment of youth centres to providing meaningful educational experiences where young people engaged critically with human rights and made their voices heard through creativity and dialogue.
 

 Quotes from participants:

• “StudioStar had a great impact on me. It helped me see human rights issues from a completely new perspective and made me realize the importance of standing up for others.”
   
• “It made me feel that I am not alone and i am not the only one who wants to change the world.”
   
• “I think this experience helped my confidence a lot. I trusted my ability to adapt, and I’m really proud of the person I got to be here. I am taking her home.”