This July, DiEM25 members from across Europe and beyond converged in Belgrade, Serbia, for a powerful weekend of grassroots political training, collective reflection, and transnational solidarity.

The DiEM25 Academy 2025, held at Dorćol Platz in Belgrade, became much more than a series of workshops – it was a celebration of what we can build together when conviction meets collaboration.

From newcomers to seasoned organisers, participants spent two days immersed in practical learning and movement-building. But the Academy was also a place where closeness bloomed – among strangers who quickly became comrades. People from different countries, backgrounds, and continents bonded, shared stories, strategised, and laughed together. It reminded us: our struggles are connected, and so are our dreams.

Find your own voice: Public speaking as political power

The weekend opened with a deep dive into public speaking and presence with Serbian actor and coach Ivan Tomić. What makes a powerful speech? Participants explored authenticity, breath, posture, and connection. The biggest takeaway: vulnerability isn’t a weakness – it’s a strength. Speaking publicly is not about perfection, but about presence. It’s about sharing our stories in a way that resonates – with confidence, structure, and heart.

Participants discovered tools to transform fear into energy, use silence for impact, and connect meaningfully with audiences. Whether delivering a speech at a protest or answering a journalist’s question, the message was clear: every DiEMer has a voice that matters – and we must use it.

Building from below: Grassroots organising for change

Johannes Fehr, Co-Chair of the MERA25 Board and former DiEM25’s Organising Director for Germany, led a powerful session on how to grow movements from the ground up. The discussion spanned housing justice, migration, social care, feminism, and combating political apathy. Attendees worked on how to tailor strategies to their local contexts – from rural villages in post-socialist countries to diverse urban neighbourhoods.

The message was clear: local struggles are global struggles. Start small, act consistently, and connect with others who share your values. Be specific, practical, and sensitive to your environment. And most importantly: be patient and courageous. Radical change starts with the courage to make the first call, host the first event, or reach out to that one other person in your area.

Johannes Fehr

Insights from the trailblazers: The Serbian student protests

A deeply impactful session came from the students behind the recent mass uprisings in Serbia. While often referred to as a student protest, they made it clear: this is the people’s protest. It began in grief – after the tragic collapse of a canopy in Novi Sad on 1 November 2024, which killed 16 people. But what followed was an extraordinary transformation of mourning into mobilisation.

Ivana Nenadović, DiEM25 Coordinating Collective member and the driving force behind the Academy’s smooth and stimulating organisation, hosted the panel with three of the student organisers. Through blockades, plenums, and decentralised national assemblies, they demonstrated the power of radical democracy, horizontal organisation, and collective discipline. Despite facing police violence, media smear campaigns, and infiltration attempts, they remained strong – guided not by egos or leaders, but by shared purpose and principles. As one student put it: “It’s not about personalities. It’s about the message.”

What set their movement apart was not only courage and clarity, but also creativity. They responded to repression with humour, inventive protest tactics, spontaneous concerts, and imaginative public actions. Their organising model didn’t just inspire – it showed us what’s possible. It reminded everyone present that real, meaningful change is achievable when rooted in people’s pain, dignity, and belief in justice.

And their call doesn’t stop at Serbia’s borders. They made it clear that holding governments accountable is not just a national task – it is a pan-European responsibility. Their story didn’t just move us. It challenged us to follow their lead.

Voices across borders: Shared struggles, shared hopes

Led by Amir Kiyaei and members from MERA25 and DiEM25 across Europe, the “Voices Across Borders” session was a mosaic of experiences – from Greek student protests to Indigenous farming cooperatives in Mexico to the need decolonial of practices within the movement.

The session opened with Erik Edman and Davide Castro speaking about their upcoming documentary on MERA25 in Greece – focused not on personalities, but on real people in Europe navigating fear, precarity, and disillusionment. Their aim: to use storytelling as a radical tool that makes politics human and accessible. From there, the conversation expanded. Lucille from the Netherlands reminded us: “It’s a question of humanity. A question of resistance.” Speakers across the movement challenged us to decolonise our minds and methods, and to centre feminist, anti-racist, and grassroots organising.

Amir Kiyaei

Enas called for solidarity rooted in listening – not speaking for, but standing with Palestinians. Sara exposed how Western aid often functions as control, muting migrant voices under the guise of neutrality. Simon spoke of healing the soil as a way to heal social relations, while Sima highlighted the importance of feminist policy – from maternity leave and daycare to addressing femicides and creating safe public spaces. Danielle introduced a new DiEM25 magazine exploring art, activism, and post-capitalist futures.

Together, these voices made one thing clear: decolonisation is not a metaphor – it’s a daily, feminist, political practice that begins within our own movements. Each perspective added to the vision of a truly internationalist Left – where humility, care, and collective power replace ego and exclusion. As one speaker said, “It’s not a utopia to demand better. It’s a necessity.”

Winning the message: Media, strategy, and representation

In a time of shrinking civic space, censorship, and corporate-controlled narratives, communicating effectively is more urgent than ever. DiEM25’s comms team – Davide Castro, Nadia Sales Grade, and Erik Edman – led a workshop on how to make the media work for us.

From writing press releases to building personal trust with journalists, participants learned how to frame messages, connect emotionally, and use storytelling as a tool for change. The message? Be real, be bold, be strategic – and don’t wait for permission to speak.

Judith Meyer followed with a session on how to use DiEM25’s digital infrastructure to strengthen local collectives, promote events, send newsletters, and build online communities. The tools are there – we just have to use them.

Democracy on trial: Facing censorship and repression

The final panel of the Academy focused on the urgent threats to democracy, as Milena Repajić (Party of Radical Left, Serbia), Johannes Fehr (MERA25 Germany), Erik Edman (MERA25 Greece), and Julijana Zita (DiEM25 Coordinating Collective) detailed how authoritarianism, censorship, and media manipulation are being used to silence dissent across Europe.

From the Party of the Radical Left being attacked in Belgrade, to Palestinian voices being erased in Berlin, to activists fined and their social media accounts being shadow-banned in Athens, the pattern is clear: those in power are scared of truth, and they are working overtime to suppress it.

But the resistance is equally strong. DiEM25’s call was clear: we must stand together, speak louder, and protect each other. Building alliances, staying resilient, and reclaiming language like “freedom of speech” from the far-right are essential steps forward.

Energising the movement: Culture, art, and community

The Academy wasn’t only about strategy. It was about energy, joy, and culture. Gianluca Constantini’s political art exhibition opened the weekend, reminding us of art’s power to provoke and connect. Music, humour, poetry, and performances infused the gathering with creativity and soul.

From tongue-twisters in public speaking class to hands-on workshops on digital tools, every moment was a chance to grow—not only as activists but as human beings connected in a collective fight for dignity and justice.

Key takeaways and next steps

• Start local, think global: Every DiEMer can create change. Begin with your neighborhood, but stay connected to our transnational vision.
• Use your voice: Speak up, whether it’s on stage, in a meeting, or with a journalist. Learn the craft of persuasion, and trust your power.
• Decolonise and democratise: Be aware of privilege. Make space. Speak with and learn from, do not speak for. Listen deeply. Share power.
• Celebrate small wins: Build momentum by acting, evaluating, adjusting—and always, always celebrating what we achieve together.
• Stay hopeful, stay active: Even in dark times, solidarity shines. Our movement is growing because people are hungry for freedom and dignity.

As the Academy closed with a field trip through the Serbian countryside, many of us reflected on what we were taking home: a renewed sense of purpose, new skills, new friendships, and a shared commitment to keep pushing forward.

This is just the beginning. Let’s carry this energy into our communities, our campaigns, and our everyday lives. The future isn’t something we wait for. It’s something we have the power to create ourselves.

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