The current state of the world may seem challenging. With an on-going brutal war on the European continent, climate change, division and rising costs of living, many young people feel uncertain about the future. In such turbulent times it is vital that young people come together and make sure their voices are heard.
Ukrainian youth are experiencing an on-going war firsthand, while the Polish and Norwegian youth are experiencing the ripple effects of it at home. Many questions are looking for answers: How can young people impact their surroundings? How can they better their futures? How can we make the future more peaceful and prosperous for future generatations?
To discuss these and other questions, we have established a platform where young people from Ukraine, Norway and Poland with an interest in politics and advocacy, can meet up, share experiences and gain new insights.
The benefits of participating in the exchanges:
- Make new aquaintances and widen your network
- Gain international experience from your home
- Improve your debating and listening skills
- Gain new insights
- Recieve an official participation certificate
You may choose one of the following dates at 5pm-6.30pm CET
- August 30th: YOUTH PARTICIPATION: What does participation mean for us?
- September 23rd: YOUR RIGHT TO ADVOCATE: What, how, and where can you advocate?
- September 24th: THE TIME WE MADE AN IMPACT: Norway after the terrorist attacks on July 22: How to prevent hate and extremism in our societies
- September 25th: YOUTH IN TIMES OF WAR: How did the priorities change?
IMPORTANT: The webinars will be conducted in English.
Two years into the war, many young Ukrainians are hindered from traveling outside their borders. We are meeting online to keep the youth connected cross-borders when wars prevent us from meeting physically.
Mahira Karim, Advisor at The European Wergeland Centre
To participate, you need to be:
- Between the ages of 14 and 22
- A member of a local, regional, national youth council/youth club
- OR an active youth in school or university
- Willing to take an active part in the discussions during the online youth exchange
Register your participation here:
Objective of the online youth exchanges:
- To establish new and strengthen existing social relations to other youth within and cross borders.
- To get an understanding of youth councils and youth’s situation in other countries – both similarities and differences.
- To increase democratic self-efficacy in times of insecurity.
- To raise awareness and increase knowledge of youth participation and advocacy.
- To identify challenges to youth participation and explore ways to address these challenges.
- To reflect on the inclusiveness of the youth councils and explore strategies and tools to make them more inclusive.
The European Wergeland Centre, in partnership with the Lublin Municipality, invites youth councils and other active youth to explore what it looks like to be an active youth during wartime versus peacetime, and to address the challenges of our time and create hope for the future.
About the project
The project is part of the Youth for the City, City for Youth project, aiming to strengthen young people’s resilience to handle crisis and reinforce their ability and confidence to participate in public life. The project engages young people in local-decision making and local decision-makers in young people’s ideas and needs. Youth for the City, City for Youth is a project in cooperation between the European Wergeland Centre and Lublin Municipality, supported by The EEA and Norway Grants.
About the organizer
The European Wergeland Centre (EWC) is a resource centre on education for democratic citizenship, human rights and intercultural understanding. It was established by the Council of Europe (CoE) and Norway in 2008, with a mandate to support member states implement CoE policies in practice. EWC designs and offers trainings and educational programmes to educational professionals and civil society actors all over Europe.