Program

Friday 26. September 2025:

09:00 - 09:15 | Opening Session
📍 Venue: Hamnagasinet

Welcome to Generation Barents — a gathering of young voices, visionaries, and leaders from across the Barents Euro-Arctic region. This opening session sets the stage for a day of collaboration, ideas, and inspiration, highlighting the importance of youth engagement in shaping a sustainable and united future for our region. Join us as we launch a program filled with dialogue, innovation, and cross-border cooperation.

Speakers:

●      BRYC Chair: Klajdi Dedej

●      Skogsungdomarna: Emma Munters

●      Norwegian Barents Secretariat: Elizabeta Vassilieva

09:15–09:50 | Speaker Session: “Empowering Youth Engagement in the Barents Region”

The youth voice has never been more crucial in addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the Barents Euro-Arctic region. In this session, young leaders from Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Indigenous communities share their perspectives on how to strengthen youth participation in policy, culture, and cross-border cooperation. Their stories and ideas will demonstrate the power of youth to drive change and build resilient communities.

Lead speaker: Karolina Hörstedt, Section Mandager of Leisure Youth

Youth speakers:

●      Norway: Iben Nikoline Abild, Longyearbyen Youth Council

●      Sweden: Ronja Olsson, Boden Youth Forum

●      Finland: Jaakko Jurvelin, Northern Ostrobothnia Youth Council Delegate

●      Indigenous youth representative: Nils Joel Partapuoli, Vice Chair of Sáminuorra

09:50–10:00 | Coffee break

10:00–10:45 | Panel Discussion: “Civil Security and Preparedness in the Euro-Arctic Region”
In a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty and accelerating climate change, civil security and preparedness are more vital than ever—especially in the Euro-Arctic. But what does it mean to build resilience in the North, and how can young people lead the way?

This session will explore how youth across the Barents region are stepping up to strengthen their local communities and build a safer, more secure future. With a focus on industry and infrastructure, culture and community, and crisis management and Civil Security, this panel highlights how young leaders are shaping civil preparedness from the ground up.

●      Finland: Jesse Karvali, Research Assistant and Arctic Youth Advocate

●      Norway:  Zoe Winter Hansen, Cultural Organizer

●      Sweden: Medina Baarda, Amnesty International Umeå

11:00–11:15 | Nordjobb

Nordjobb shares experiences on how they create employment, housing, and cultural activities for young people in the Nordic region – and contribute to mobility, community, and new experiences.

Representative from Nordjobb: Ludvig Karlsson

11:15–12:00 | Interactive Activity: “Barents Jeopardy”

It’s time for learning, laughter, and a little friendly competition! Barents Jeopardy invites participants to test their knowledge of the region’s culture, history, and current issues in a high-energy quiz format. This interactive activity will not only entertain, but also strengthen connections and spark curiosity about our shared region.

12:00–13:00 | Lunch

13:00–13:45 | Thematic Briefing: “Future Skills: Housing, Business, and Education”
What skills, resources, and opportunities will young people in the Barents region need to thrive in the future? This thematic briefing gathers voices from business, housing policy, and education to explore how we can ensure sustainable living conditions, foster entrepreneurship, and improve cross-border learning opportunities. Together, we will look at innovative solutions that can help young people build fulfilling lives in our northern communities.

Presenters:

●      Economic development and entrepreneurship from Finland: Azizbek Akhmadjonov, Sales representative EMEA

●      Housing Policy Expert from Sweden: Daniel Levisson, Umeå municipality

●      Educational Innovator from Norway: Ismet Bachtiar, Project Leader for Creative Technologies, Tvibit.

13:45–15:00 | Workshop: “We’re All in the Same Boat”
This is your chance to shape the future agenda of the Barents Regional Youth Council (BRYC). Through open discussion and collaborative group work, participants will share their priorities, ideas, and visions for the future. Topics include dialogue platforms, Indigenous youth participation, and partnerships with the EU and Arctic stakeholders. Your input will directly influence BRYC:s path ahead.

Topics:

●      Platform for dialogue and collaboration
●      Human rights, Indigenous Youth participation and gender equality
●      Partnership with the EU and Arctic actors

15:00–15:15 | Coffee Break

15:15–16:00 | Plenum: “The Road Ahead for the Euro-Arctic Youth Council”
The day concludes with a look towards the future of youth cooperation in the Euro-Arctic region. We will hear reflections on the day’s discussions, present workshop results, and gather input from official representatives. The session will culminate in the signing of the Umeå Declaration — a symbolic and practical step towards strengthening youth collaboration across borders.

Structure:

●      Introduction and summary by moderator
●      Presentation of workshop results
●      Speech by: Lars Lustig, Vice Governor of County Administrative Board Of Västerbotten
●      Signing of the Umeå Declaration
●      Closing remarks by BRYC chair: Klajdi Dedej

19:00–21:00 | Official Dinner

Join us Friday evening at FACIT GALEJ in central Umeå for a special three-course dinner hosted by the Barents Regional Youth Council. The evening includes cultural entertainment from the famous singer Natalie Carrion, good food, and great company from across the Barents region. This is a chance to relax, connect, and celebrate together in a beautiful private venue. Don’t miss one of the most memorable moments of Generation Barents 2025!

📍 Location: Facit Bar at Kungsgatan 63

Saturday 27. September 2025:

09-09.15 | Gathering on the parking lot outside Hamnmagasinet, Umeå

Short information about the excursion presented by the leaders of Skogsungdomarna, Emma Munters, Mary Blomqvist and Sofia Udell

• The participants will be divided into two groups A and B

• A starts with Norrfors forest

• B starts with Gammlia forest (in the city)

09.15 - 09.45 | Bus (A) /walk (B) to respective place

09.45- 11.15 | Coffee and introduction to the subject, followed by a walk in the forest

At site A

○ Speakers: Svarte Swartling (private forest owner), Lina SelinA (representative Norra Skog), Majdi Eira Andersson (reindeer herder).

○      Theme: Production and reindeer husbandry

○      Focal points

■       Basic concepts of the Swedish forestry model

■      Challenges and opportunities of the Swedish forestry in the context of climate change, production needs and ecosystem services

■      Basic concepts of reindeer herding

■      Challenges and opportunities for the reindeer herding in the light of climate change, lichen availability and other ecosystem services

At site B

○      Speaker: Doris Grellman (Ecologist and Planning coordinator, Umeå municipality) and Johan Bäckman (forestry planner Umeå Municipality)

○      Theme: A conservational and recreational perspective of the forest

○      Focal points

■      Basic concept of nature preservation

■      The challenges and opportunities of preserving biodiversity in the boreal forest - what could be done, and what is done?

■      Some introduction of conservation species

■      Basic concepts of recreational values in the forest

■      Which forests do people enjoy? How can we create them?

LUNCHTIME:

A: 11.15- 11.40 | Boarding of bus and travel to Gammlia

B: 11.15 Lunch starts at Gammlia: sandwiches

A: 11: 40 Lunch starts at Gammlia: sandwiches

B: Bus to Norrfors

12.15- 14.00 | Introduction to the site, followed by a walk in the forest

• Lunch can be eaten during this intro

• Stations A and B, see program above

14.00 - 14.30 | Short summary of the field trip and transport back to Hamnmagasinet

●      Sum up by the leader of Skogsundomarna and information about the rest of the day

14.30 - 14.50 | Coffee and fika break at Hamnmagasinet

14.50 - 14.55 | Skogsungdomarna welcoming greeting

14.55 - 15.10 | Speech by Staffan Norin, the Head of the Forestry Department at the Swedish Forest Agency

●      Speaker: Staffan Norin

●      Topic and focal points:

●      Short summary of all values that could be found in the forest

●      The purpose and work of the Swedish Forest Agency

●      What is done to achieve sustainable forests for future generations in Västerbotten?

15.10- 15.50 | Panel discussion “Forests for the future”

●      Speakers: Eira Maidi Andersson (reindeer herding perspective, youth),  Petrus Lestander (young forest owner and forestry student) and Wilma Halvarsson (forestry student)

●      Theme: Youth perspectives on forest usage

●      Main questions to be addressed:

○      How can we balance all values provided by the forest?

○      How do we create sustainable forests for the future in the light of climate change, loss of biodiversity and need for wood?

16.00- 16.30 | Workshop “Youth Voices for Tomorrow’s Forest: Finding Balance in a Changing World”

●      Theme: Youth perspective on future forest usage

●      Questions:

○      What values should be prioritized and how (e.g. biodiversity, production of timber and pulp, reindeer herding, recreational values, climate mitigation and adaption)?

○      What trade-offs are necessary to ensure long-term sustainable forest management?

○      How should youth perspectives be integrated into forest policy and planning?

○      What innovations or collaborations could help balance biodiversity, climate, reindeer herding, wood supply and other resource needs?

16.30 - 16.45 | Presentation of some suggestions from the workshop and summary of the day

●      Speakers: Leader of Skogsungdomarna Emma Munters, Staffan Norin (Swedish Forest Agency)

●      Aim:

• Presentation of some youth perspectives and suggestions of the forest from the workshop

• Handing it over to Swedish Forest Agency in Västerbotten by Staffan Norin

• Wrap up of the day

17.00 | Leave Hamnmagasinet at latest

17.00 - 19.00 | Break

19.00 | Dinner hosted by the County Administrative Board of Västerbotten
📍 Venue: Balder, restaurant in Umeå city

Purpose of the day:
The purpose of Skogsungdomarna’s Day is to provide young people with the opportunity to learn about and reflect on how the boreal forest is utilized and managed. Equipped with this knowledge, they are encouraged to consider how the forest could be managed to balance the various values and needs of future generations. This is achieved through a workshop where participants are invited to discuss and record their thoughts and suggestions on forest management. The results are then presented to Staffan Norin, Head of the Forestry Department at the Swedish Forest Agency.