Youth Music for Peace, Freedom and Democracy
The youth in Ukraine and Norway take responsibility and will learn from each other. President Zelensky's and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støres words inspire.
Our project, Youth Music for Peace, Freedom and Democracy, aims to strengthen democratic awareness, civic participation, and cross-cultural cooperation among young people in Norway and Ukraine. Through music, dialogue, and shared experiences, the initiative will help the youth understand and practice the values of peace, freedom, and democracy in their daily lives.
The project unites three youth orchestras — from Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Oslo - and one youth Council and one School from Kryvyi Rih. Activities will include digital rehearsals, youth democracy workshops, and a joint performance in Oslo on Norway’s National Day, 17 May 2027, and some days before and after.
By promoting dialogue between youth who have lived under war and those who have grown up in peace, the project embodies the European ideals of solidarity and mutual learning. It contributes directly to the Erasmus+ Youth priorities of inclusion, democratic participation, and European values.
Inspiration to our project
Speech by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Norwegian Storting
March 30, 2022: ..... And then, I am sure, we in Ukraine will be able to adopt one of your extraordinary traditions. A wonderful tradition. The one that characterizes you the most - peaceful people, a society built on the principles of good.
Every year on May 17, on Constitution Day, you organize an extremely sincere celebration - a parade of schoolchildren. Children from all over Norway take part in it. This year, our children will go with your children - Ukrainians who came to you for protection and security.
And I hope that soon, when we manage to restore peace in Ukraine together, and it will happen, I will be able to invite you, to invite you and your children to take part in such a parade in Kyiv on one of our holidays. To celebrate our common freedom, our common right to a happy future for our children. In peace. In Ukraine. In Europe.
Because, as they say, if a rock breaks off from Europe, Europe becomes smaller. So, we must do everything to ensure that a rock like Ukraine is always with Europe. Only together.
The Norweginan Prime Minister
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre
The children in focus when Peace, Freedom and Democracy is celebarted the 17th of May procession
– You cannot be a father or grandfather without being moved by it, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to NTB. I sat there thinking that my grandchildren, who will be walking in the 17th of May procession, will probably be walking with Ukrainian children. They will do so with an outstretched hand, he continued.
Speaker of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani said in 2023: - This year was extra special since Ruslan Stefanchuk, who leads the parliament in a country at war, got to watch Norway's celebration of freedom and independence. He told me that "this is what we dream of achieving in Ukraine, the day there is peace again".
Photo: regjeringen.no
The key to succes in this project
The youth from Ukraine and Norway are in charge of this project. They have made a contructive plan, but they are dependent on support and cooperation from many persons and organisations. They have already started dialogue with several parties, and will seek cooperation with even more.
We look forward to staying together with the youth in this important work.
Unlimited Network
We build democracy and transparency stronger together
UN goals
Among other: Goal 4: Quality education
Goal 10: Reduced inequality
Goal 16: Peace, justice and well-functioning institutions
Goal 17: Partnership to achieve the goals
The youth is the future
The youth build knowledge together about Peace, Freedom and Democracy
Friendly Places
You don't know what peace and freedom mean until you lose it.
To the youth
by the Norwegian WWII poet Nordahl Grieg.
Surrounded by enemies, enter your time! During a bloody storm – we prepare for battle! Perhaps you ask in fear, uncovered, openly: What shall I fight with, What is my weapon?
Here is your protection against violence, here is your sword: Faith in our life, the value of man. For the sake of all our future, seek it and cultivate it, die if you must – but: increase it and strengthen it!
Silently goes the sliding band of grenades. Stop their drive towards death, stop them with spirit! War is contempt for life. Peace is to create. Throw in your strength: death shall lose!
Love – and enrich with dreams – everything great that was! Go towards the unknown, wrest the answer from it. Unbuilt power plants, unknown stars – create them, with life’s spared bold minds! Noble is man, the earth is rich! If there is need and hunger here, it is due to betrayal.
Crush it! In the name of life shall injustice fall. Sunshine and bread and spirit be owned by all.
Then the weapons sink down, powerless! If we create human dignity, we create peace. He who with his right arm bears a burden, precious and inalienable, cannot murder.
This is our promise from brother to brother: we will be good to the earth of men.
We will take care of its beauty, its warmth – as if we were gently carrying a child in our arms!
Translated into English by Per-Kaare Holdal
Copyright © S2pU Support to the people of Ukraine
Youth Brass Band Souvnir, Kyiv
Hasle School Music
Music school no. 10, Kryvyi Rih
Norway and Ukraine, 11 May 2026