Behind the Curtain

I’m Marlen Wehner, and my journey with the JCl European Academy began in 2018 as a delegate – curious, nervous, and unaware of how life-changing it would be. Since then, l’ve returned every year as a trainer, and this year as Head Trainer I helped to shape the same transformation for others.

The academy feels magical, but it’s no accident. Trainers, the COC, and the leadership team spend months preparing the environment where delegates can focus on growth, leadership, and connection. What looks effortless on site is the result of countless hours behind the curtain.

Yet the true ingredient is always the delegates. In every challenge, you stand at a crossroads: between fear and love. Fear makes you hold back; love invites you to step forward with courage. At EA, you learn what happens when you choose love – for growth, for people, for purpose.

That is the secret. Ordinary people arrive. Extraordinary leaders leave.

And because the magic cannot be explained by one voice alone, this article will share different perspectives – from the trainers who guide, to the COC who hold everything together behind the scenes, to the participants who step into the unknown and emerge transformed. Together, these voices reveal what really makes the JCI European Academy a life-changing experience.

The 28th JCl European Academy at a glance

• Dates: August 1 – August 5, 2025
• Held in Kungälv, Sweden
• Delegates: 99 from 24 countries
• Trainer team: 20 trainers from 13 countries
• Crew, board, and volunteers: 17 members (+3 volun-teers) supporting operations
• Funding: Supported by Sponsors, ASE Contributions, JCI Snejden, the JCl European Development Council, a GoFundMe campaign, and delegate fees

If you’ve ever wondered what makes the European Academy so unique, let me reveal a secret: it’s not magic at all – or maybe it is.

Mathias ‚Lama‘ Landhäußer

JCI European Academy
2025 Academy Director
JCI Germany, WJ Karlsruhe

Magic Ingredient: Conference Organizing Committee (COC)

Behind every seamless moment at the JCl European Academy stands the
COC – the invisible force working day and night to hold everything together.

This year, I had the honor of guiding this extraordinary team, though it was their dedication that made the magic possible. On the surface, it may look like just planning and logistics, but in truth, it is much more than that.
They spend so much time preparing and planning that everything runs like clockwork – even when reality suddenly changes and they need to adjust – or abandon – the original recipe. The COC is the foundation of the Academy: the team that creates a safe space, keeps the flow alive, and makes sure both trainers and delegates can give their very best.

From arranging venues and schedules to handling last-minute surprises, the COC ensures that the „stage“ is always set for growth. Their true gift is that special ingredient of presence – offering support, encouragement, and calm energy even when things get intense. They are the ones who silently make sure the magic can happen, not by standing in the spotlight, but by holding it steady for everyone else.

Without the COC, the potion would never come together. They are the heartbeat of the European Academy.

Magic Ingredient: Months of Preparation

Imagine this: for months, we are just faces on a screen – 35 JCl members from across Europe, each with our own responsibility to prepare. We plan sessions, learn methods, rehearse, and organize logistics. Many of us have never truly met before, yet in the background, something important is already growing: trust. Step by step, we learn to lean on each other, to laugh through the stress, and to connect across cultures and time zones.
Then the moment comes. After months of online preparation, we finally gather in the same room. Nervousness turns into laughter.

Professionalism blends with trust. Slowly, all the puzzle pieces we’ve built online click into place.

Yes, we still chase details and polish what can be improved. But when the Academy begins, something bigger takes over. The energy shifts, responsibilities flow together, and suddenly we are one strong team – sharp, connected, supportive, and full of energy.

That’s the magic that makes JCl European Academy unforgettable.

Erika Hällström

JCI European Academy Trainer
JCI Sweden

Milla Koivulahti

JCI European Academy Trainer
JCI Finland

André Snede

JCI European Academy Trainer
JCI Denmark

Magic Ingredient: Training Environment Onsite

As trainers at the JC European Academy, we know the magic doesn’t just happen by chance – it is carefully created, step by step. From the very first moment participants arrive in Sweden, we design an environment where curiosity, courage, and connection can grow. We invite them to step into the unknown, to let go of what is familiar, and to trust the process.

Our role is not to simply teach, but to craft countless small moments that, when woven together, transform into something extraordinary. A challenge that stretches comfort zones. A silence that sparks reflection. A conversation that ignites courage. A team exercise that forges trust. Through laughter, dialogue, and even tension, we help participants discover what real teamwork feels like – raw, challenging, and deeply rewarding.

We guide them, but never walk the path for them. Instead, we hold the space for their growth. Over only a few days, the fragments of learning and experience merge into an energy greater than the sum of its parts. They leave not just with tools for leadership, but with allies, mirrors, and a new

That is the art of being an EA trainer: shaping an experience that cannot be explained, only lived – and knowing that in this forge of JCl Europe, future leaders are created, carrying the spark of transformation into our shared tomorrow.

Magic Ingredient: Delegates
The JCl European Academy is an experience I will hold close to my heart for a very long time. Going into it I had no idea what to expect – but what l experienced was greater than I could have ever imagined
During five very intense days l’ve not only learned to understand myself and others better but also got the chance to put this knowledge directly into practice during the various fun group works we did.

However, the biggest highlight for me was meeting new friends from all over Europe. From the minute you arrive you’re surrounded by so many likeminded, kind and motivated people that it will feel like they are close friends in just a few minutes. I highly recommend every ambitious Jaycee to apply for the JCl European Academy!

Nena Tempel

JCI European Academy 2025 Graduate
JCI Germany, WJ Würzburg