This summer, Celje once again became a city of youthful creativity, collaboration, and community spirit. Within the Erasmus+ project G.O.A.T. – Get on the Action Train, two Slovenian youth initiatives – Break the Floor and Summer FEST – demonstrated the incredible potential of young people when they are given the space, trust, and encouragement to bring their ideas to life.
Both initiatives were co-financed within the G.O.A.T. youth competition and supported by the Celje Youth Center (MCC), which continues to serve as a hub for innovation, participation, and inclusion in the Savinja region.

Break the Floor – Dance as a Language of Connection

On 4 and 5 June, MCC Celje hosted not only Slovenia’s largest international dance competition but also one of the most inspiring youth initiatives of the year. Break the Floor, now in its 18th edition, once again transformed Celje into a vibrant meeting point for young dancers, artists, and audiences from all over the world.
More than 300 dancers from 40 countries took the stage, competing in six different disciplines and sharing their passion through diverse dance styles, cultural backgrounds, and personal stories. The event was a true explosion of energy and creativity — solo performers, duos, and five-member crews showcased their talent through technical excellence, daring improvisation, and authentic self-expression.

Beyond the competition, Break the Floor became a space for learning and exchange. Mentors held dance workshops where participants could develop new skills, gain confidence, and connect with professionals from the international dance scene.
By entering the G.O.A.T. competition, the event was recognized as much more than a dance battle — it became a movement of young people who build community through art, break stereotypes, and create bridges between cultures.
Break the Floor once again proved that dance is a universal language that transcends boundaries — a language of empowerment, empathy, and social connection.

Summer FEST – Youth Creating Their Own Stage

Just two months later, another group of young visionaries brought the same spirit of youth empowerment to life through Summer FEST, held on 29 and 30 August in Celje.
Entirely organized by young people — Kristjan Veber, Filip Vidušin, and Žiga Žvižej — the festival was designed as a celebration of youth culture, music, art, sport, and sustainability. The goal was clear: to create a space where young people could express themselves, connect with one another, and gain valuable experience for the future.

Summer FEST offered a rich and diverse program — from live concerts and artistic performances to workshops on sustainable living, mental health, and community engagement. The event also promoted a healthy lifestyle through sports activities and encouraged young people to spend their free time actively and creatively.
By connecting local organizations, artists, and entrepreneurs, the festival strengthened community ties and created opportunities for young people to collaborate and showcase their talents. It also gave the organizers hands-on experience in project management, teamwork, communication, and leadership — skills that will serve them well in future careers and community initiatives.

“Summer FEST was not just a festival – it was proof that young people can organize, create, and inspire,” the organizers shared. “We wanted to show that Celje can be a city where youth feel heard, supported, and proud to contribute.”

Empowering Youth, Strengthening Communities

Both Break the Floor and Summer FEST are shining examples of what happens when we believe in young people. They remind us that supporting youth initiatives is not only our responsibility – it is our opportunity: a chance to give young people the wind in their sails, to help them grow, and to celebrate their ideas as valuable contributions to our communities.

Youth work is about more than organizing activities. It is about trusting young people to lead, experiment, and learn — about creating an environment where their creativity can flourish and where they can shape the world around them.
Through projects like G.O.A.T. – Get on the Action Train, co-financed by Erasmus+, young people across Europe are proving that local action can have European – and even global – impact.

Together, these initiatives show that when youth take the stage, communities thrive. Celje is proud to be part of that story — a city that listens, supports, and believes in the power of its young people.