European Forum Alpbach and MEGA Bildungsstiftung Hackathon
"The Moment of Truth" – European Forum Alpbach: 79 Years After Its Founding, Peacekeeping Remains the Central Theme!
Bringing together participants from around the globe in the breathtaking Tyrolean Alps, the Forum offered its usual diverse array of topics. But in 2024, it also included spaces for reflection, moments of silence, and peace circles, fostering deep connections and an atmosphere of trust.
After the "Into the Silence" morning ritual, I happened to sit next to the senior manager of Böglerhof. As the niece of Simon Moser, a co-founder of Forum Alpbach, she has a wealth of knowledge and shared her stories. The Forum was initially founded by Otto Molden, a student from Vienna, and her uncle, Moser, a philosophy lecturer in Innsbruck. In 1945, right after the end of World War II, the Forum began as the International University Weeks. The participants were young people who had actively resisted National Socialism, and the founders envisioned a comprehensive renewal of Europe’s intellectual life.
At that time, Simon Moser’s brother, the mayor of Alpbach, promised all attendees they would be provided with food in Alpbach—a significant offer in the post-war period. Together, they searched local farms for food, with Molden bringing cigarettes to trade for essentials like meat. Today, there is plenty of food at the congress, but the catering is vegetarian to minimize environmental impact!
"The Moment of Truth" – what a guiding principle for Hashtag#EFA2024! This motto served as a constant reminder to all participants of the importance of genuine, honest, and authentic interaction. Such interaction can only thrive among responsible individuals, making everyone a true leader.
Alpbach is what you make of it—I leave with a heart full of wonderful inspirations. Thank you to the MEGA Bildungsstiftung in cooperation with the Liechtenstein Group for inviting me as an expert!
The Hashtag#MEGAHACKATHON showcased projects that address the challenges faced by marginalized communities, improving financial and economic literacy. Congratulations to the Hackathon winners: Invest it! (Clara Alena Lütkefels & Victor Neumann) and Claudia Prudic for Money Matters.
My heartfelt congratulations to the organizers, experts, and changemakers—each of you made this possible! A special thanks to Matthias Strolz for his inspiring contributions and to Wakanyi Hoffman for the fantastic talk on Ubuntu and the peace circles.
Photo credits: EFA Marko Risovic and Susanne Lederer-Pabst
