500 years after the Fuggers arrived in Almadén –
What can we learn for the future
Students and teachers from the historic towns linked to the Fugger family – Allmadén and Almagro (Spain), Augsburg (Germany), Banská Bystrica (Slovakia) and Sterzing (Italy) – will come together at the IFYC 25 International Youth Conference in Allmadén to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the Fuggers.
This special week will start at the host families of the Spanish friends. Together they will experience a so-called Family Day, during which they will discover the city and its surroundings and make their first memories together.
The official start of the conference will be accompanied by a warm welcome and fun activities to break the ice. This will be followed by a visit to the famous Almadén Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where participants will learn more about its extraordinary history and the role played by the Fuggers.
The Mercury Centre will host expert discussions that will focus on environmental and health issues related to mercury – from Renaissance methods to today’s challenges. Students will have the opportunity to present the results of their research and will also tour Almaden together.
The next day will feature workshops led by university experts that will focus on the health effects of mercury and ways to detect it. In the afternoon, participants will prepare the conference outputs and go on an interesting field trip.
The last day will be in the spirit of sharing and celebration. Participants will visit a partner school in Almagro, present their findings from the conference and hand them over to representatives at the historic Fugger House. After a tour of the beautiful city, they will say goodbye to their new friends at a joint party full of music, joy and memories of an unforgettable week.