What would an ideal future look like for the Nordic youth? A Stronger Nordic youth movement continued with its second workshop in Copenhagen on 15th to 17th of November 2024! Around 30 young people as well as facilitators from Föreningen Nordens förbund took part in this inspiring weekend where the focus was set on the future.
The workshop built on the results from the first workshop organized in March 2024. We went into the future of the Nordic youth movement as well as the hopes and dreams of the youth. What support and opportunities young people in the Nordics feel they need, to have better opportunities to take part in civil society and decision-making. During the workshop we worked on a visions for the perfect world in the future for youth participation and involvement using creative hand on methods to spark our imagination. The main facilitator of the workshop was Mari Savio from Piknik People Studio who with background in design brought and interesting hand-on perspective to ways of work and imagining a future.
Workshops program:
Session 1 – Getting to know each other and the project
Session 2 – Warm-up and moodboarding
Session 3 – Creating a ”Better world prototype”
Session 4 – Hands on work starts
Session 5 – Final preparations of the prototype
Presentation of the results
Wrap-up & feedback
On Friday, we arrived at FNF’s office to make the space colorful and inspiring. Some of the participants joined in the preparations and got a first glimpse of the materials we were about to work with! Once everyone had arrived, it was time for some icebreakers. The main goal for Friday was to help everyone get acquainted, settle into the space, and warm up to the themes of the weekend.
The weekend’s workshop aimed to spark the participants’ imagination by using various design learning tools to create “Better World Prototypes” — visions of an ideal future where young people’s wishes, dreams, and ambitions are all taken into account.
On Saturday, the participants continued working based on their ideas from Friday’s warm-up. The mood boards from Friday were hung on the walls of the space, making them easily accessible and serving as inspiration for the whole group. During the day, the participants’ ideas were transformed from sketches on paper into concrete, physical representations. A wide range of materials for crafting, coloring, gluing, and cutting were available — the only limit was the participants imagination.
Some of the themes the participants highlighted in their mood boards — and which were also reflected in their final products — included sustainability and a slower pace of life. These ideas mirror the lived experiences of today’s active youth, who often feel overwhelmed by the constant flow of information and by looming crises such as climate change. Increased cooperation and a stronger sense of community were also frequently discussed themes. Young people have a strong need for connection and the support that community brings, but they often lack the platforms, resources, and time to make it a reality.
On Sunday, it was time for the final touch-ups and to film an “advertisement” for each prototype. The videos and physical creations were presented group by group and documented by our staff. By the end of the weekend, the participants were excited, eager for more, and full of ideas on how to turn these utopias into reality — both in their personal lives and within their communities. Genuine connections were made, and the participants also had the chance to explore the beautiful city of Copenhagen during their free time and through organized social activities.
