Mothers of Europe

 

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 now about Mothers of Europe

 

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

The first exhibition of Mothers of Europe will take place from the 10th of March until the 6th of April in Berlin.

[More info on the exhibition here.]

EDS/Project requirements:

EDS_D2.1_opening expert event in Germany

 

Mothers of Europe has received funding under Grant Agreement no 101143916, from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) programme. Project is implemented in 6 countries (Czechia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland and Spain).

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

In partnership with: