Roots & Routes: A European Journey of Migration, Memory and Diversity Begins in Brussels | 21–22/09/2026

On 21 and 22 September 2026, Brussels welcomed international partners and local communities for the official launch of Roots & Routes: Youth Archiving Europe’s Migration Memories. From the first exchanges between project partners in Jette to an evening filled with music, food and cultural encounters in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, the two events brought people together to celebrate diversity, share experiences and mark the beginning of a new European journey.

Roots & Routes (R&R) is a 24-month European project co-funded by the European Union’s CERV programme. Bringing together partner organizations across six countries — Belgium, Greece, Spain, Slovakia, Austria, and Italy — the project focuses on recovering, preserving and sharing underrepresented migration histories, particularly those of Roma communities, African people, migrants and LGBTIQ+ communities. Rather than speaking about these groups, R&R empowers individuals to become the authors and storytellers of their own narratives.

The official journey began on 21 September 2026 with a kick-off meeting hosted by Connect Brussels in Jette, Belgium. Representatives from all partner organizations gathered to outline the project’s framework, governance, financial guidelines and reporting structures. Partners also mapped out upcoming activities, including needs analyses, training sessions, memory labs, storytelling workshops, youth exchanges, and museum pathways.

The meeting was also an opportunity for partners to get to know each other, exchange perspectives and establish a shared vision for the activities ahead, laying the foundations for collaboration across the six participating countries.

To celebrate the start of the project, a vibrant launch event took place on 22 September 2026 at the Commune of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode. Bringing together over 60 participants from diverse backgrounds, the evening featured live music ranging from traditional to contemporary sounds, delicious food from various cultures and plenty of space for conversation and connection. It was a joyful celebration of community, diversity, and the shared stories that enrich our societies.

The launch event brought the spirit of Roots & Routes to life, offering a space where different cultures, generations and experiences could meet. Between music, conversations and shared moments, participants had the opportunity to connect and celebrate the richness of Europe’s diverse communities.

Together, these two days marked not only the official beginning of Roots & Routes, but also the first steps towards building connections, preserving memories and giving greater visibility to the stories that shape our shared European history.

Want to see how it all started? Watch our video and relive the best moments of the Roots & Routes kick-off meeting and launch event! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piFnIVlbb-4

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.