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Making new contacts, debating inclusion and creating art – the EUPeace student festival included all this and much more. Its very first edition took place in Limoges in southwestern France. Seventy students from seven different countries and eight partner universities involved in the EUPeace alliance met there. Students from the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen were also present. 

A ten-member delegation from Pilsen traveled to France for the festival. Participants were selected through a competition on the themes of Peace, Justice and Inclusive Societies. It was announced by the student organization EUPSA UWB Pilsen in the categories of painting, photography and local project. The judges were most impressed by the following participants, who then flew to France: Yelizaveta Skrypnik, Darya Baravik, Ondřej Líbal, Matěj Líbal, Martin Gebert, Lucie Psutková, Krystsina Schemeleva, Darya Zyubenko, Iulia Gorshkova, and Victoria Günsberger. 

After watching the french movie Intouchables, for example, the students discussed their perceptions of inclusion, and together with renowned press-satire illustrator Liza Donnelly they reflected on freedom of expression. They also explored the architecture of Limoges and visited the memorial and village of Oradour, which was massacred by the Nazis in 1944. The trip to France and the entire festival were documented in detail by Ondřej Líbal, a doctoral student and editor-in-chief of Wéčko, the longest-running student radio station. 

The EUPeace student festival program concluded with a neon electro party, where the participating universities presented their musical talents. DJs Yelizaveta Skrypnik and Darya Baravik, students of the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art, performed on behalf of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. "Our participation in the final event-party was not only a step towards our international development, but also a great representation of the talents of our faculty. We were pleasantly surprised by the excellent technical organization of the entire event—all conditions were met at a high level," summarized Yelizaveta Skrypnik. Darya Baravik was also satisfied: "Our performance was successful and we received a lot of positive feedback from the organizers and participants of the event. We hope to be able to return to this place in the future."

For members of the EUPSA student organization, the festival was also an opportunity for their first face-to-face meeting since the organization was founded in June this year. In addition to discussing strategies for expanding the membership base at individual branches affiliated with universities in the EUPeace alliance, they also discussed possibilities for expanding the activities and events of the EUPSA organization. Matěj Líbal, a student of the Faculty of Arts, participated on behalf of the University of West Bohemia. "A major attraction of EUPSA for students at UWB, in my view, is the announced Student-led Events grant competition, which offers the chance to receive up to €1,000 in support for projects or events that will build a peaceful, just, and inclusive academic environment," said Matěj Líbal, referring to the organization's website for more information.