The Barents Youth Program 2025-2027

The Barents Regional Youth Council has published the Barents Youth Program for 2025-2027. The purpose of the program is to build a better future for the region’s young people, to have their voices heard and listened to. The foundation of the program is a series of discussions from Generation Barents 2024, an annual event gathering youths from across the Barents region together for a better future. The publication is thus a testament to the passion, hard work and dedication of the youths of the region.

The program aligns with the goals set by the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, the Barents Regional Council and BRYC itself, ensuring a shared vision for the future. BRYC and their program is supported by the member regions of the Barents Regional Council, and closely cooperates with The Norwegian Barents Secretariat and the regions for the BRYC Annual Events.

FOREWORD

In a world often divided, the Barents Region stands as a testament to the strength of cooperation, built through generations and across borders. Here, unity is not just an aspiration but a living bond that shapes our shared landscapes, our shared futures. It is in this spirit that we look to our youth, not simply as tomorrow’s leaders, but as essential voices today—voices that have helped shape this very program through their vision, energy, and commitment to a thriving Barents.
The Barents Youth Program 2025-2027 is a blend of ideas, drawn directly from the hearts and minds of our young people. At the Annual Event, Generation Barents 2024, they gathered from across the region, bringing forward their insights, their dreams, and their dedication to building a brighter future. Their hands and hearts have crafted a plan that transcends borders, ensuring that youth engagement is not only encouraged but is at the very centre of our regional development.
Through this program, we celebrate the diversity and resilience of our communities. Here, in the openness of our shared North, young people build bridges in culture, sports, health, education, environment, entrepreneurship, human rights, equality, Indigenous advocacy, and international relations. Together, they develop skills, foster respect, and enrich the fabric of our societies, strengthening them for generations to come.
In these pages lies a promise—to honour and amplify the voices of our youth, to cherish their contributions, and to walk forward in unity. Together, we light the path forward, forging a legacy of unity and resilience that echoes across generations.

Klajdi Dedej

Chair of the Barents Regional Youth Council, BRYC

(Download the full document here)