On the occasion of the 2017 AER MYFER award ShineBright on the region of Hedmark, Norway, that presented its project of a Youth County Council. This initiative, promotes the involvement of Youth in regional politics.

Norway conducts its governance on three different levels: the State, the county (fylke) and the local level. At the county level, the County Council represents the democratically elected body. In order to improve decision making, Hedmark’s programme developed a Youth County Council. The new body gathers 45 members from age 13-25, 2 from each municipality, and work as an advisory for the County Council.

The Youth County Council is deeply engaged in making young’s people voices heard in policy decision making, especially in matters that targets them. The YCC, also gives recommendation on various topics such as culture, education, health care, environment and public transport. Currently, the Council commits highly to a campaign that encourages youth to vote in the upcoming elections in Norway.

Since 1998, the Youth City Council works for and with the youth to secure for them a safe present and future. The program continues to widespread good practices to all municipalities of Hedmark, and other regions of Norway for a greater youth implication in politics.

For more information, visit: the Hedmark’s region website 

Photo credits: lily llyukhin @Unsplash https://unsplash.com/@ilyailyukhin