Finland

The aim of the training sessions is to provide constructive knowledge about the concept and practice of youth advocacy on the international level and additionally to improve young people skills on intercultural dialogue, management of advocacy strategies and other such skills. The Second section of the training session is dedicated to gain practical experience by participation in the international conference on cultural issues and visiting various institutions that promote/help and contribute to the Youth Work internatnioanly and works in the interests of Youth.

The Final section of the training session covers the issues facing young people in each of the partner countries, what joint problems exist that could be resolved through joint effort and how to relate and use methods of advocacy to advance awareness on these issues. This is supplemented through strategic dialogue discussions with experts, exercises and group work in order to use the Nordic cooperation angle to exchange experiences and best practices on how to initiate change (organise campaigns etc.) and create a comparative perspective on developing solutions for the future. Each training session follows the same structure but addresses the core topics on the different levels of operation detailed above to ensure comprehensive review of the topic.

Date and place: 3rd – 6th of May 2023, Helsinki, Finland
Venue and Accommodation: Scandic Helsinki Avia Congress (Robert Huberin tie 4, 01510 Vantaa, Finland) and other places

Participants: up to 25 participants (5 participants per country). Partner organisations representatives, experts, invited guests, students/youth and NGOs leaders, networks and individuals representing vulnerable groups.

Official languages: English

Components of the public debate:

– Key note speeches by young people and international experts in the field of youth advocacy, youth policy, education and inclusion, political participation, civil society, climate change, human rights, social cohesion, participation in international youth work, decision making and participation tools and services – The aim is to introduce the themes to all participants (as the event is open to all) and further elaborate on the continued relevance of these themes.

– Panel discussion sessions, these panel discussions include representatives of many different backgrounds who will highlight the usefulness of creating a comparative perspective, being open to ideas from other countries (regions), and finding common goals and policy approaches.

– Practical working groups/workshops for participants to introduce them to new skills and knowledge with final cooperation results. (Workshop agenda for organizations/individuals related with strengthening cohesion for more inclusive Nordic-Baltic region).

REGISTRATION (online form) is open until 1st of May 2023

3rd of May 2023 – Arrival day
All day arrival from (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Estonia)

4th of May 2023 –  I Training day on youth advocacy international level
10.00 – 10.10 Lets recall what we have learned in Estonia, Sweden and Denmark
10.10 – 11.30 Youth Advocacy on EU and international level (Youth Advocacy for international organisations, stakeholders and policy makers, youth activists and networks) introduction of theory and practice (specifics of working international) – Vassili Golikov, SSCW
11.30 – 12.00 Coffee break
12.00 – 13.00 Practical approach in advocating the youth interests: key steps in advocacy and lobbying at the international level.
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.00 Strategic dialogue with stakeholders / discussion: “Youth Advocacy at the international level – how it works and what needs to be fixed?”
– (National Youth Council of Finland) TBC
– Jenni Kauppila (UNA Finland)
– Balqis Khattab, IKF (Sweden)
– Ivan Vasilevskikh, Folkevirke (Denmark)
– Adéle Johanne Mathisen, Socialisti youth (Norway)
– German Morris, Peace Child Estonia (Estonia)
15.00 – 16.30 Four Groups: sharing practical exercises on international youth advocacy
(Each country present own experiences, based on the practical experience of young people and organisations in fields of youth work, education, culture, climate change, environment protection, etc)
16.30 – 17.30 Continuation of national youth project initiative development and conclusion of the day
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner

5th of May 2023 – II Training day on youth advocacy international level
10.00 – 13.00 Participation in the international conference “Nordic culture and arts transformation in frame of achievement of UN SDGs” by getting international experience in culture field and making practical advocacy.
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.00 Debates “Fostering youth activism and advocacy is a dream, as decision makers do not believe in youth?”

• Representative of Norway (Aram Karim)
• Representative of Denmark (Christer Hansen)
• Representative of Sweden (Tala Alsaadi)
• Representative of Finland (Iida Aalto)
• Representative of Estonia (Ingrid Raudsepp)

16.00 – 17.30 Visiting The Finnish Development NGOs – Fingo and Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi in Helsinki
17.30 – 18.00 Conclusion of the day
18.00 – 19.00 Dinner

6tn of May 2023 – III Working day and Conclusions
10.00 – 11.30 Two Working groups:
– Development of Youth Advocacy Toolkit. How young people could advocate to support sustainable development goals and improve Nordic collaboration in youth field.
– Discovering ayouth participation during crisis (joint problems of young people in Nordic-Baltic region( based on recommendations for decision makers in the Nordic region (see materials) in advocating their rights and interests

11.00 – 12.00 Presentation of the results and conclusions