Every year, The European Wergeland Centre (EWC) and Utøya invite young activists, educators, and community leaders between the ages of 18 to 30, to a training in democracy and intercultural dialogue.
Former Norwegian Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs and diplomat Thorvald Stoltenberg was a pioneer for Norwegian peace diplomacy and put great value in dialogue, often exemplified by his “kitchen meetings”, where he would invite state leaders and foreign ministers to his home to enjoy a cup of coffee, relax and have a talk at his kitchen table.
Thorvald Stoltenberg passed away in July 2018. In his memory, and to honour his strong belief that knowledge and tolerance could overcome xenophobia and hate, the Thorvald Stoltenberg seminar is held at Utøya for young people engaged in democracy and human rights. Utøya has a long history of youth participation and international solidarity. It also holds a strong place in the Stoltenberg family.
History of the Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar
Thorvald Stoltenberg’s breakfast kitchen meetings were popular among many state leaders and ministers. When Nelson Mandela made his official visit to Norway two years after his 27-year-long imprisonment, he was heard asking, “Does Thorvald Stoltenberg still arrange his breakfast kitchen meetings?”
As a peace diplomat, Thorvald Stoltenberg believed that strong personal relationships were vital for securing long-lasting peace in Europe. He placed great value in dialogue, and his kitchen meetings became a testament of his commitment to solving conflicts through sincere and honest conversations.
I attended so many important meetings where people came in, read a pre-written manucript out loud, and then left. It rarely led to signinficant results. They I came up with the idea of breakfast.
Thorvald Stoltenberg in an interview with the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten
Stoltenberg practiced what he preached in his very own kitchen in Oslo, where he would personally serve his guests coffee and breakfast – treating world leaders as fellow human beings, rather than public officials on a business trip. Together they would spend hours discussing both the conditions of peace on the international stage, and their personal lives. Such intimate conversations would often demand tolerance of the listener and courage to share honestly of the speaker, as well as the ability to handle disagreements and respect differing opinions.
Perhaps this is why Stoltenberg’s kitchen meetings became so popular – they built genuine personal connections and meaningful dialogue.
I can’t prove that a peace agreement was made at this table, but I think it contributed to an important level of understanding between the people I dealt with
Thorvald Stoltenberg in an interview with the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten
The Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar at Utøya
The first Thorvald Stoltenberg seminar was organised at Utøya 12.- 17. june, 2019. Youth leaders from 28 countries took part at a five day training on intercultural dialogue.
Since then four Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar has been held. This year’s seminar was held 18. – 22. June, and started with a short visit to EWC’s headquarters in Oslo, before headed to Utøya, an hour’s drive from Oslo.
Utøya holds a very special place in Norwegian society. Not only has the small island been the location summer camps since 1930, and for the Norwegian Labour Party’s Youth Leauge summer camps since the 1950’s. It was also here where the worst terror attack on Norwegian soil took place, when in 2011, a radicalized right wing extremist murdered 69 people – most of them children.
I think i learned a lot about other cultures and how to stop and listen to people, be an active listener and participant, and how to adress healthy conflicts with dialogue and peaceful disagreements.
Participant, The Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar, 2024
The location for the Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar is of high importance to the project, as it was for Thorvald Stoltenberg and his family. The yearly programme includes information about the tettor attack, and reflections over its consequences.
The participants sleep on the island for the duration of their stay, and will be taken to and from the island by bus. The island staff serves three meals a day, which can be enjoyed outside in sunny weather. During the day, the participants attend workshops on dialogue, democracy, identity, how to respond to hate speech etc. The goal is that all youth leaders will learn new techniques in dialogue and democratization, that they may employ in their professional lives back home, and teach it to others.
The trainers were so amazing. Thank you to everyone for making it feel like home, and making us all feel safe and comfortable to talk about the range of topics discussed. It’s been one of my best memories till date and I will remember this for the rest of my life.
Participant, The Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar 2024
During their stay at Utøya, participants also have their own kitchen meetings. At “Kitchen Table Talks,” participants meet up in groups assigned for the whole seminar to share reflections, practice active listening, and explore the possibilities and challenges of dialogue in their countries and in their personal lives.
Would you like to participate at the Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar? Stay tuned for information about the Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar 2025 on our webpages.