PWR Up 2025: Igniting Connections and Strengthening Capacity
Held on 28–29 August 2025 at the Van der Valk Hotel in Utrecht, the Netherlands, this year’s PWR Up Networking Event united over 30 civil society organizations from more than 20 countries for two days of learning, reflection, and connection.
About the Event
PWR Up is a dynamic summit designed to ignite connections and strengthen capacity among changemakers, creatives, and community leaders. It offers a powerful space for networking, skill-building, and collaborative action and a platform where ideas turn into impact.
Core Values:
- Connect : Build meaningful relationships across communities.
- Learn : Share tools, experiences, and solutions.
- Amplify : Elevate each other’s voices and drive collective change.
Day 1 : PWR in Practice: Tools & Action
Day 1 focused on equipping participants with practical tools and innovative approaches to create change. Sessions explored the intersection of creativity, technology, and civic engagement.
Highlights included:
- Civic Society PWR and Changes in the Field – Raghda Elhalawany
- Artivism as a Tool to PWR Process and Society – Dona Momm
- Introduction to the ADDIE Model – Bram Verstraten and Saugat Jung Pandey
- Testing the Metaverse – Hamza Bouksim
- Ethical & Inclusive A.I. – Akash Raj
- International Day of Peace: Runway to Peace Celebration
Parallel sessions featured project meetings for FOODPrint, DOUth and Halan We Grow, and also took the opportunity to discuss the Mosaic of Minds (MoM) initiative.
Day 2 – PWR of People: Connections & Foundations
The second day celebrated collaboration and shared purpose, emphasizing the human connections that power change.
Highlights included:
- Opening by Ditta Dolejsiova, Chair of the MasterPeace Board
- Module of the Future and Doughnut Economics – Marleen Boersen
- ECO-labelling – GrowUnited Team
- Social Entrepreneurship – Maryam, Hamza, and Bob
- Organization’s Strategy to PWR Youth – Ditta Dolejsiova
- Fundraising Strategy and Diversification – Jennifer Lemke
- Open Networking & Matchmaking through Open Space Technology
- Reflection and closing session
A Platform for Shared Growth
Across both days, participants built trust, solidarity, and shared purpose, strengthening their leadership, creativity, and organizational strategies. PWR Up 2025 reminded us that real change begins with connection, when communities come together to learn, collaborate, and amplify each other’s impact.