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Giuseppe Beccia, former OBESSU Secretary General and author of the thesis "European Student Organisations and Movements after 1968", takes us to a journey through the history of OBESSU. From its engagement in the fight against apartheid by actively supporting the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) to its support to school student unions in the Balkans after the wars, OBESSU never stopped fighting for the protection of human rights, especially students' rights. "The best is yet to come and now you are the protagonists".

45 years of OBESSU, 45 years defending school students' rights tirelessly. Our anniversary is much more than a number on the paper or a registration certificate, it means that school student unionism stands strong and tall in front of all challenges and rises above all the political, economic or geographic attempts to stop our work to fight for student-centred, quality and inclusive education all over Europe and the world. Now, more than ever, this is a key message to convey: school students are resilient and ready to fight every battle when there’s solidarity, understanding and when we’re part of a collective plan to change the world we live in, starting from education systems. 

The current education crisis we are facing due to the Covid-19 outbreak is raising many questions. Together with the European Students' Union (ESU), we want to tackle how assessments and in particular school graduation and university entrance exams will be managed as well as how to guarantee a smooth transition from secondary to tertiary education.

Before Coronavirus hit Europe and the entire world, we had the opportunity to continue the one-year #EcoFighers program with another regional advocacy seminar on the topic of environmental sustainability. #EcoFighters program is financially supported by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe and aims at promoting a culture of environmental awareness and activism in the context of school students and apprentices organisations, through democratic participation of young people in various ways, platforms and levels.

Between the 27th of February 2020 and the 3rd of March 2020 we have gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the first of three #EcoFighters regional advocacy seminars. The seminars have a regional focus, and therefore this one was oriented on Northern Europe.