I want to make a difference

She is currently working on the important topic of the mental health of young people. A passionate European, she is studying for a Master's degree in European Studies - Management of EU Projects at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences.

"I've always had a strong interest in languages and forming my own opinions," she says.

Her path first led her to a Bachelor's degree in Journalism at UAS Wiener Neustadt. She completed internships at ORF and ÖBB, among others. She came to the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences on the recommendation of a lecturer she met while travelling to Brussels. "I'm only in my first semester, but I really like it so far. Especially the mix of students. There are 33 of us from 14 countries. I'm working in groups with colleagues from Nigeria, Azerbaijan and all over Europe. For the first time in my life, I'm experiencing something called "cultural intelligence" - we see ourselves as a community and actively try to create an open, appreciative environment. That feels incredibly wonderful."

The organisation she is involved in, YEP, is a social enterprise for youth empowerment and participation. Ronja tries to be the mouthpiece for young people. The organisation works with the so-called "YEP effect". This means that YEP first concludes impact agreements with organisations before conducting surveys on various topics. The organisations then commit to implementing the results of the report in their work. "Our results therefore have a real effect in practice. For example, in the Demokratie macht Schule project. For example, it was ensured that young people can actively participate in shaping the curriculum."

Ronja Hasler is also active at EU level and is involved in the NGO AGORA - European Green Deal. The NGO is run by Verena Ringler, the lecturer at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences who recommended the programme to Ronja. AGORA acts as an intermediary between local organisations and "big Brussels". The aim is to implement the Green Deal locally.

When the student describes herself, she says

"The EU is far from perfect, but it is a blessing for a country as small as Austria. We must appreciate and protect this, especially in times when right-wing populism is once again being openly offered a stage worldwide."

She is gaining experience on several levels. For example, she is also a member of the Economic Policy Academy in Vienna. This is a self-organised network of students. "We spend a year talking to each other about current social and economic policy issues, opening up a multi-layered discourse. We work in a solution-orientated way and try to bring in all our different professions. That makes us a very diverse group," explains Ronja.