Call for Participants: Nordic Training of Youth Trainers

The European Wergeland Centre, Utøya learning centre and No Hate Speech Movement Norway, in cooperation with the Council of Europe Youth Department, invite youth trainers and educators across Nordic countries to the Nordic Training of Youth Trainers in Human Rights Education at Utøya, Norway.

The training course will support youth trainers’ and educators’ efforts to combat hate speech, extremism and xenophobia. Participants will explore, apply and practice Human Rights Education and non-formal learning methods throughout the training, using learning materials such as Compass and Bookmarks developed by the Council of Europe. 

  • Where? Utøya island, one hour from Oslo, Norway
  • When? Friday 4th – Monday 7th April, 2025
  • Who? Youth between 16-25 years from Nordic countries and regions
  • Participation costs Most reasonable travel, as well as food and accomodation at Utøya is covered for participants.
  • Application deadline March 4th, 2025
Apply here

Why Nordic Training of Youth Trainers?

On July 22, 2011, Norway was struck by the deadliest terrorist attack it had seen since World War II. Carried out by a far-right Norwegian extremist, the attack was a violent declaration against inclusion and diversity—democratic values that the terrorist saw as a threat to the Norwegian society. The main victims were members of the Norwegian Labour Party Youth attending a summer camp at Utøya, an island just outside of Oslo. In the years following this attack, all Nordic countries have seen a rise in various forms of hate and violent extremism.

The Nordic perspective on this training serves as a reminder that hate and intolerance know no borders, and it highlights the need to recognize these shared threats and work together to build resilient societies. 

Youth trainers in the Nordic countries are doing an important job in strengthening their communities in the face of polarization.This training will be a space for them to develop their skills and exchange experiences across the Nordic context, using Utøya as a key point for reflection and learning. 

Participant profile

The training is for youth trainers and educators between 16 – 25 years old involved in youth work, campaigns, networks, youth organizations or other activities with youth promoting youth engagement to combat hate speech, extremism and xenophobia. 

Participants should:

  • Be able and motivated to organise a follow-up workshop after the training
  • Live in a Nordic country (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Greenland or Åland)

Objectives of the training

At the training course, participants will:

Human Rights Education

  • develop the competencies of human rights education of youth trainers working against hate speech, extremism and xenophobia.
  • become more familiar and confident using non-formal education methods for human rights education by and with young people, and practice facilitation skills.
  • learn how to use Compass, Bookmarks and other human-rights based manuals as a youth trainer with young people.
  • exchange experiences as youth trainers and the opportunities and challenges we face.

Human Rights

  • become familiar with Utøya as the site of a far-right extremist terror attack and to understand how living remembrance can inspire young people to contribute to the fight for basic human rights.
  • become familiar with human rights as an idea, and learn how to produce learning and reflection with a human rights approach.
  • map and discuss human rights challenges in the Nordic countries and how to address them.

Meet the organizers

The training is organized by the European Wergeland Centre in collaboration with Stopp hatprat (No Hate Speech Movement Norway) and Utøya AS, in cooperation with he Council of Europe Youth Department.

No Hate Speech Movement Norway is the national campaign of  the international youth movement for human rights and against hate speech started by the Council of Europe’s Youth Council after the terrorist attacks on July 22, 2011, in the government quarter and on Utøya to take a stand against hateful ideologies online. The movement mobilizes youth who wish to join or learn how to work together to combat hate speech through various initiatives, such as their Young Ambassadors Programme, annual Youth Conference, and the Youth Network.

The European Wergeland Centre (EWC) is a resource centre on education for intercultural understanding, human rights and democratic citizenship. It was established by the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Education in Norway. The work of EWC builds on Council of Europe recommendations and policies. EWC’s main aim is to strengthen the capacity of individuals, educational institutions and educational systems to build and sustain a culture of democracy and human rights.

Utøya is a commemoration and learning centre at the site of the terror attacks on 22. July 2011. It offers educational programmes, seminars, conferences and summer camps for youth in Norway and from other countries fighting for democracy, human rights, peace and reconciliation – locally, nationally and globally.

Supported by

The training is funded by the Sparebankstiftelsen (Savings Bank Foundation), the Ministry of Culture, as well as the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth, and Family Affairs’ support scheme for initiatives against racism, discrimination, and hate speech.