Oslo Mayor Welcomes Youth Initiative for Peace, Freedom and Democracy
A meeting with Oslo Mayor Anne Lindboe strengthens the dialogue between Oslo and young people from Norway and Ukraine
On 1 December 2025, Support to the people of Ukraine (S2pU) had the pleasure of meeting with the Mayor of Oslo, Anne Lindboe, to present the international youth initiative “Youth Music for Peace, Freedom and Democracy.”
The meeting brought together the leader of S2pU, Per-Kaare Holdal, and two young representatives from Souvenir, the Youth Brass Orchestra from Kyiv, Ukraine – Anna and Mariana. They presented information about the project and shared their vision for bringing young people from Norway and Ukraine together through music, dialogue and democratic participation.
The delegation also invited the Mayor of Oslo to continue the dialogue and explore opportunities for cooperation with the City of Oslo in the implementation of the project.
Young people taking responsibility for the future
The project is built on the belief that young people should not only be invited to participate in discussions about the future – they should be given an active role in shaping it.
Through music, cultural exchange, youth dialogue and democratic participation, young people from Norway and Ukraine will meet, share experiences and develop common ideas for peace, freedom and democracy.
For the young Ukrainian participants, the project also provides an opportunity to tell their own stories and perspectives, and to build lasting connections with young people in Norway.
A positive response from the Mayor
Mayor Anne Lindboe expressed her appreciation for the initiative and thanked the delegation for their commitment and engagement.
She welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the project and expressed her positive view of initiatives that bring young people together across national borders and create opportunities for dialogue, understanding and cooperation.
The meeting was an important opportunity to establish a direct dialogue with the City of Oslo and to discuss how Oslo can contribute to and support the project going forward.
From Kyiv to Oslo – building bridges through music
At the heart of Youth Music for Peace, Freedom and Democracy is a simple but powerful idea: music can build bridges where borders and conflicts create distance.
Young musicians from Ukraine and Norway will meet in Oslo, perform together and participate in activities focusing on peace, democracy, human rights and youth participation.
The project will culminate in a series of major youth events in Oslo in May 2027, including the Youth Peace Conference and the Youth Charity and Peace Concert at Oslo Concert Hall.
The meeting with Mayor Anne Lindboe marked an important step in developing the cooperation surrounding these events.
For S2pU, the message from the meeting is clear:
Young people want to contribute. They want to be heard. And they want to build a future based on peace, freedom and democracy – together.
Building on the Oslo–Kyiv friendship
The cooperation between young people in Norway and Ukraine also builds on the strong and longstanding relationship between the two capitals. Oslo and Kyiv have a formal friendship agreement, reflecting the close ties and solidarity between the two cities.
For S2pU, this provides an important foundation for further cooperation. By bringing young people from Oslo and Kyiv together through music, dialogue and democratic participation, the project aims to strengthen these ties and create new bridges between the next generation.
In 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Oslo officially became a twin/sister city of Kyiv to express unwavering solidarity and facilitate direct urban cooperation. The relationship between the two capitals is heavily focused on humanitarian aid, rebuilding efforts, and sharing administrative and technical expertise. The friendship between Oslo and Kyiv is more than an agreement between two cities – it is an opportunity for people, and especially young people, to build lasting relationships for peace, freedom and democracy.