My day was great because the sun came back to Amsterdam after a couple of rainy days and my friends from Spain will be visiting tomorrow ☀️.

Feel free to use this space to introduce yourself, talk about your day or give us a media recommendation! (Right now, I can't get Headphones On by Addison Rae out of my head).

And don't forget to add today's date in the title!

This week, I'm feeling very homesick. I love living in Amsterdam and I feel so privileged to have a chance to be here. But I miss my family and my friends, I miss the familiar places and sounds, I miss home.

Sometimes, I think my heart is split in two, one half in Amsterdam and the other in Porto, and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to put it back together again.

On the other hand, isn't it amazing that we get to leave little pieces of ourselves everywhere we go?! And that we'll always have these wonderful memories of the places and people we meet all over the world?! Home can become so many different places!

As Fernando Pessoa, my favorite poet said: "Ter saudades é viver" ("To miss is to live") and I would like to live my life to the full.

xoxo,

Leonor

PS: I also miss my dog Nala so here's a picture of us 🥹

Still buzzing after the first semi-final of Eurovision! So impressed with the performances—what a show! I'm beyond happy that my country finally made it in. It was a nerve-wracking wait, but totally worth it. Now counting down to Saturday's grand final...

What a beautiful day it is today! The sun is out, and I can't wait for summer to finally arrive. It's a good time to pause, reflect and refocus for the weeks ahead.

Things have been going well lately with work and my studies (almost finished – woohoo!), as well as in my personal life. Even when there are bad days, I try to focus on the good things. Small things bring me joy: For example, reading a good book on the banks of the Vltava River.

I am grateful for everyone around me. For me, a solid network of people to laugh and cry with is the key to happiness. <3

Although the next couple of weeks will be challenging, what with my final exams and new projects on the horizon, I am excited by the new opportunities arising from them. I am looking forward to expanding my perspective, meeting new people, and working together to make the world a better place for everyone.

I am glad to be part of something meaningful, such as the Anne Frank Youth Network. It gave me many opportunities, and there will be more to come. Since joining, I have met many inspiring young people who motivate me. Thank you to everyone for that.

Dear Dairy,

Its encroaching heat and I am drowning in swat. Yeah, I sound gross, but what can I do if summers really hit different as compared to other foreign countries. But the best part of summers is that it's time for vacation!

Wahoo! Finally, after finishing my schooling as well the entrance exam (and also scoring pretty well) my parents and I set off to spend time with ourselves. It would be so exhilarating! Perhaps, we would be together making beautiful memories.

Apart from this, I am also eager to write to you my friend, that I am currently reading "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath. The book is based in the year 1953, which explains how important and difficult it was to liberate women during the past years. The novel revolts about an inspiring women "Esther Greenwood" who interns with a famous magazine in the New York, where she wants to be herself and not what world expects her to be. Yeah, such a mindset relating to women can be noticed till now, in the modern era as well. So maybe that's why, I find it on the same wavelength.

Besides this, I am just happy and grateful for everything internally, not for purpose of writing, but believing Anne's words: "Paper is more patient than human begins"

Yours truly,

Ahana Dave

Yours grateful

Ahana

How great is to have this online space to share our thoughts and ideas? Thank you Judit for setting this up!

For those who don't know me, I'm Marta, I work at the Anne Frank House. I started working as a volunteer in 2021 and now I help coordinate projects like the AFYN.

I originally come from beautifully, sunny Barcelona. After being away for almost 4 years now, I totally relate to what Leonor was saying in her entry. My heart is split between the Netherlands and Spain and both feel like home to me. Being away for so long, and having the privilege to create a home away from home in the Netherlands has really helped me expand what I understand as home.

It's been great to read all your entries! Thank you for being so open in them, it's wonderful to see the AFYN community growing.

-Marta

my name is Kauê, i’m an international relations student and a human rights activist from Brazil. on top of that, i’m also the director of international relations at UNE (the National Union of Students) and, more recently, i’ve taken on the exciting adventure of being the secretary general of OCLAE, this amazing network that connects students all across Latin America and the Caribbean.

today has been one of those peaceful days — clear skies, the sun shining… i love when the weather cooperates like this, it gives me extra energy to keep up with my projects and studies. i’ve been trying to balance everything, dedicating myself to my responsibilities, but also making time for myself — whether it’s reading a good book or just going for a nice walk outside.

what inspires me the most is having the chance to meet and exchange ideas with people from all over the world, learning and building things together. i think that’s what makes it all so special!

oh, and if I can share a recommendation: listen to “Matilda” by Harry Styles — it’s been keeping me good company lately.

Hello from the Anne Frank Center in Columbia, South Carolina! My name is Sam Livoti and I am lucky enough to get to work at the North American partner of the Anne Frank House in the United States! I have been a member of the Anne Frank Youth Network for 12 years and it has truly changed my life! Being a part of the network has taught me to become a leader in my community, confidence, and has given me the chance to make friends from across the globe! I can't wait to see some of you in South Carolina in the next few weeks at the International Anne Frank Youth Forum!!!

Best,

Sam

Dear Diary,

Previous week 12th June was Anne Frank's birthday, so I kind of feeling a zeal and internal happiness. Today is the most astounding day of the week, as today I began as the first day of my university. Initially, I was obviously nervous and loaded with self-doubt. But as the time, passed the faculty seemed to spread a wave of amity and the esteemed guest who qualified as a renowned Civil Judge guided us, how discipline, consistency and hard work are the key principles and ethics which shapes our career.

Apart from this, I got to meet few university seniors and got introduced with a couple of acquaintances who came from Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and some other parts of Gujarat.

As the dawn enveloped the hazy clouds around the sun, evening welcomed itself. Around 7 in the dusk, I opened Instagram and was pleased to see myself in Afyn post, which reflected my views about Anne Frank as a writer. I was much heartfelt with the post and obliged to Afyn members for giving such an opportunity where I could express my views for Anne Frank.

Yours' grateful,

Ahana Dave