Young people in Europe today

Young people in Europe today are interested in learning about other cultures and current issues that affects our society, and in developing themselves and discovering their artistic and creative skills. In the formal education system in Europe we see a lack of important competencies connected to democratic culture, citizenship, solidarity and creativity. We see an increased need to learn in a different way, beyond what the formal education system can offer. In Norway we have folk high schools, which are based on non-formal learning, and at the same time is acknowledged as an important part of young people’s education before they enter university or the job market. A folk high school isa place for young people to be curious, creative and to discover their interests within different topics such as art, culture, sports, entrepreneurship, society, politics, solidarity, environment and sustainability. While at the same time increase their understanding of the self, others and the world around them. Sund folk high school (Sund fhs) offers volunteers a unique opportunity to learn and discover more about these topics and acquire competencies in democratic culture, citizenship, solidarity and creativity, and learn about non-formal learning and how to implement this in practice. Sund fhs is a boarding school with approx 100 students in the age of 19 - 25 years. They study sports, jazz, photography, sports fishing, solidarity, climate change or traditional handicrafts.