Norwegian and Ukrainian Youth Respond to the Challenge: Democracy Must Be Learned, Practised and Protected
Young participants in the Erasmus+ project “Youth Music for Peace, Freedom and Democracy” have read with great interest the recent statement by Norway’s Minister of Education and Research, Kari Nessa Nordtun, highlighting that many 18-year-olds have significant knowledge gaps about democracy.
The Minister’s message has resonated strongly with the young people involved in the project. While democracy is often taken for granted in peaceful societies, young Ukrainians participating in the project know from personal experience what happens when freedom, peace and democratic values come under attack.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate from 2022, Oleksandra Matviichuk is positive to speak at the planned Youth Peace Conference. Here together with one of the youth leaders, Mariana Biloshapka and the project manager, Per-Kaare Holdal, S2pU.
The Erasmus+ project brings together youth from Norway and Ukraine through music, dialogue and cultural exchange. Together, they are preparing three major activities in Oslo in May 2027:
- Participation in Norway’s Constitution Day celebrations on 17 May with a joint Norwegian-Ukrainian youth band.
- The Youth Peace Conference on 19 May 2027.
- The Youth Charity and Peace Concert on the same day.
For the young participants, the project is about much more than music. It is about understanding democracy, learning from one another, and building lasting friendships across borders.
The youth leaders, Nikoline from Oslo and Mariana from Kyiv, believe that democratic values cannot simply be taught through textbooks. Democracy must also be experienced through participation, dialogue, responsibility and engagement. This is particularly important at a time when democratic institutions are being challenged in many parts of Europe and the world.
Inspired by Minister Nordtun’s reflections, the project group is now developing a proposal to engage youth councils and youth representatives from municipalities and counties throughout Norway. The aim is to give young people an opportunity to contribute directly to discussions about democracy, freedom, openness, participation and the future of society.
One of the planned outcomes is a youth-led document, tentatively titled “Democracy Now and for the Future in Norway and Ukraine”, which will present recommendations from young people to decision-makers in both countries.
The project participants would therefore be honoured to present their work and ideas to Minister Kari Nessa Nordtun. They hope to discuss how youth engagement, international cooperation and democratic participation can strengthen young people’s understanding of democracy in practice.
The young people behind the project share the Minister’s concern that democracy should never be taken for granted. They also share a strong belief that the next generation must be actively involved in shaping and protecting democratic societies.
As preparations continue towards Oslo 2027, the youth participants from Norway and Ukraine remain united by a common message:
Democracy is not only a system of government – it is a responsibility shared by every generation.
The leaders of the youth steering group, Nikoline and Mariana, have sent a formal invitation to Minister Kari Nessa Nordtun to discuss their proposal for a process in both Ukraine and Norway.
The conference will gather youth representatives from across Norway and Ukraine to discuss questions such as:
- What does democracy mean to young people today?
- How can youth contribute to peace and freedom in Europe?
- What challenges does democracy face in the future?
- How can young people strengthen participation, openness, and trust in society?
- What can Norway and Ukraine learn from each other
Photo: regjeringen.no
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