Anna Shvets, Francesca Ceban, and Alexandru Fedaș won the 2026 Just Transition Young Voices Awards. In this year’s contest, young people from across the Energy Community region were invited to submit videos showing what a just energy transition means to them and their communities.
Organized by the Energy Community Secretariat, in cooperation with CEE Bankwatch Network, Balkan Green Energy News (BGEN), Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), Just Transition Young Voices Awards aims to bring young people’s voices, experiences, and ideas into the discussion on a just energy transition.
The second edition of the awards was open to young people aged 18–30. Unlike last year, when participants submitted written stories, the 2026 competition focused on video and featured two categories: Creativity for Impact and Storytelling for Impact.
Anna Shvets, 19, from Ukraine, won the Creativity for Impact category with her video Just Energy Transition in Wartime.
Her video explores the just energy transition through the experiences of communities in Ukraine, showing that change can happen not only at the European and national levels, but also within local communities and through young people’s engagement.
The jury praised the video for its clear and memorable message, strong structure, and emphasis on individual and community action.
Francesca Ceban, 21, and Alexandru Fedaș, 24, from Moldova won the Storytelling for Impact category with their video An Example for the Community.
The video follows a local community member who has decided to switch to renewable energy, illustrating both the practical benefits of the transition and the opportunities it can create for individuals and communities.
The jury particularly highlighted the video’s human-centered approach and strong journalistic quality, as well as the way it connects a personal story to the broader energy transition.
The jury gave a Special Acknowledgement to Vesa Shala, 20, and Deurita Hoxha, 20, from Kosovo* for their video Flipping the Narrative.
The jury praised the concept’s originality and the use of bottle flipping as a metaphor for the challenges of achieving a just transition. The repeated attempts to successfully flip the bottle symbolise the time, persistence, and effort required for the transition.
The winners will present their videos at the Just Transition Forum in Montenegro
The winners will present their videos at the Just Transition Forum in Podgorica, Montenegro, on October 20, 2026, bringing their perspectives into a regional discussion with decision-makers, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders.
They will also take part in a capacity-building session on October 21, organized in cooperation with GIZ. Registration for the Just Transition Forum is still open.
