Mothers of Europe is an initiative that tells the story of the pioneering achievements of women who helped shape modern Europe—women who championed democracy, social progress, and justice, yet remain underrepresented in history.

Read the publication on Mothers of Europe in English | German

The project is part of a series of exhibitions held in three German cities and 15 locations across Europe by our partners, showcasing the contributions of these “Founding Mothers.” The exhibitions will be accompanied by a publication that delves deeper into the historical background of these women’s important work.

As our democracy faces challenges from disinformation campaigns, various actors are using digital platforms to manipulate narratives and distort the truth. In response to these threats, which undermine democratic values, our work aims to defend the digital space by flagging disinformation and amplifying positive narratives. [1]

Opening session 21st of October, 2024 in Berlin

The opening session celebrated the impactful, yet often unseen, contributions of women and queer individuals to European integration and democratic values.

Aileen McKay, a social entrepreneur focused on inclusion and empowerment, delivered a keynote on “positivity, power, and positionality,” drawing on Hannah Arendt’s idea that true power is collective and inseparable from positionality. She highlighted two types of positionality—both inherited (social, economic, and gendered backgrounds) and chosen (values and political stances)—and underscored the need for privilege-aware allyship.

The first panel centered on women’s political empowerment, featuring McKay and Ana-Maria Trăsnea, co-founder of the Women’s Leadership Network, who inspired young women toward civic leadership. The second panel explored challenges women face in sharing their stories, with activist Martin Speer, European Youth Forum’s Magali Hubers, and Helen Neitemeier from Wir für Demokratie sharing insights on building allyship.

Participants left with a strengthened understanding of women’s essential roles in European history and values, inspired by discussions on allyship, language’s role in empowerment, and practical strategies for fostering equity.

In a lunch talk, Berlin-based experts provided recommendations for shaping the accompanying exhibition, suggesting the inclusion of FLINTA-identifying leaders, collaborations with local changemakers, interactive elements, multimedia engagement, and intergenerational perspectives. Together, the event and exhibition reinforced solidarity and commitment to advancing women’s leadership and gender equity across Europe.

First exhibition opening 10th of March, 2025 in Berlin

The first exhibition of Mothers of Europe took place from the 10th of March until the 2nd of April in Berlin.

Mothers of Europe is an initiative that tells the story of the pioneering achievements of the women who helped shape modern Europe – women who championed democracy, social progress, and justice, yet remain underrepresented in history.

This is part of a series of exhibitions held in three German cities, and 15 locations across Europe by our partners, that will showcase the that contributions these “Founding Mothers” made.

Exhibitions will be accompanied by a publication that dives deeper into the historic background of these women important work.