Interview with Valentine Wolfgang, ENGSO Youth best volunteer award winner
As a member of the Sports Diplomacy Working Group, Valentine Wolfgang received the ENGSO Youth Best Volunteer Award in recognition of her commitment and contributions to ENGSO Youth during the 2023–25 mandate.
We asked her to share her impressions of being an ENGSO Youth Young Delegate.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us how you first got involved with ENGSO Youth?
I’m Valentine, a 25-year-old Young Delegate from Germany and currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sport Ethics & Integrity. I first heard about ENGSO Youth through a friend who was a Young Delegate at the time and encouraged me to apply for the 2023-2025 mandate.
What has been your most memorable project or initiative during your time with ENGSO Youth?
I enjoyed transforming the message from the position paper on Youth participation in sport organisations into infographics to improve the communication through the social media platforms. Besides the work within our great working group on Sport Diplomacy, I also had the chance to attend multiple events on behalf of ENGSO Youth, including a meeting with the French sports minister, which was an incredible opportunity to present our work.
In what ways do you feel your work has made a positive impact on the youth or the sports sector?
I think our work during the last mandate helped to shine a spotlight on young voices in sport and advocate for their rights and a place at the table. During chats with important stakeholders in the sector, I got to see the reputation ENGSO Youth has already built, and it makes me proud to be a small part of this change. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of work to do, and I look forward to increasing our impact over the next two years.
What does “youth empowerment through sport” mean to you, and how have you seen it in action?
For me, “youth empowerment through sport” means to always have young people at the table and actively listen to their voices. This is crucial for all decisions taken, and the only way to ensure that those are sustainable. Within but also outside ENGSO Youth events, I have seen this in action with young people participating in the planning process, being given a platform to share their experiences, and also an audience that takes their opinion seriously and is in a position to change the current situation.
How has your time with ENGSO Youth influenced your future goals or career plans?
My time with ENGSO Youth has significantly shaped my future goals and career plans, as it gave me a valuable insight into the world of sport diplomacy. It made me more aware of the opportunities to speak up and actively contribute to meaningful discussions, especially in areas where young voices are often overlooked. Through this experience, I started to make my voice heard, believe in my perspectives as a valuable addition to a discussion and be even more grateful to have a strong team that always supports.
If you could describe your ENGSO Youth journey in three words, what would they be and why?
Fun, as I always enjoyed our monthly meetings, which often finished with quite competitive Kahoot quizzes on European institutions.
Empowering, because the ENGSO Youth family gave me opportunities to step out of my comfort zone and grow.
Truly international, because not only do the Young Delegates come from all across Europe, but also, moving around during the mandate didn’t negatively impact my volunteering and even gave me access to more opportunities through ENGSO Youth.
Thank you Valentine for your contribution to the development of ENGSO Youth.