INCREASED PARTICIPATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
By 2030, they have increased well-being among young people, through participation and meaning-making in future issues. By preparing for future challenges, promoting sustainable leadership and strengthening a democratic set of values, and a holistic approach to transformation into a socially and ecologically sustainable society.
In the transition to a sustainable society, children and adolescents people are rarely invited to participate - even though the future is mostly theirs.
Future Voices (English for "Framtidens röster") makes it possible for children and adolescents to participate in the creation of their future. I is an arena for them to meet politicians and other decision-makers in topics related to the transition to a sustainable world. The starting point is a solution-oriented mapping, based on knowledge. The purpose is to provide conditions for participation and well-being.
At present, the focus is on the end of the spring semester of 2022. It is then fifty years since the UN's first environmental conference took place, in Stockholm in 1972. In June 2-3, 2022, Sweden will once again host a UN conference. The aim of the meeting is to increase the pace of the transition to sustainable societies. Framtidens röster invite school classes, to make the UN conference an opportunity where children, adolescents, heads of state and UN delegates meet for real.
Several school classes have already realised an intermediate goal for the COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021.
In June 2022 engaged students invited UN delegates and decision-makers to a dinner in the sign of the future. The dinner on June 2 was at Anna Whitlock's upper secondary school, and on June 3 at Rålambshovsskolan middle school. Both schools are located in central Stockholm. Here you can read the article, published by the city of Stockholm.
On the World Environment Day 5 June, Future Voices took part in an individual conversation with UNEP Secretary General, Inger Andersen and at that time the Swedish Minister for Climate and the Environment, Annika Strandhäll. Read the article here.
Knowledge linked to relevance and meaning
During the school year of 21/22, a work was carried out, from primary to high school. Initially, a school class chooses a topic and immerse themselves into it.
Then each student, initially individually, makes a cartography of what a positive future can look like, especially with regard to the topic. The process is similar to the visualisation of a future goal image used by successful athletes. The method is called Positive Cartography and has been developed in the Netherlands, Israel, Sweden, and several other countries and it has been used by UNESCO. The individual map is then shared with a group, and then a joint survey for the whole class. The class also identifies the obstacles that are on the way to the goal.
After the future mapping, the class formulates a letter that is sent to UN delegates, members of parliament, ministers and heads of state about the demands and wishes the children set for the future with regard to today's decision-making.
The next step is to prepare for an interview with the mayor, and the school class has access to Sweden's foremost sustainability managers and researchers, who coach prior to the interview.
The completed interview is published on a website together with interviews with other school classes. Here are also the good examples and best practices displayed of sustainable solutions that have been implemented in different parts of the world.
Expert panel
Some of Sweden's foremost sustainability managers and experts are connected to Framtidens röster. The experts guide and coach school classes prior to students' interviews with decision-makers
Annika Ramsköld
Head of Sustainability, Vattenfall
Kerstin Lindvall
Head of Sustainability, ICA
Charlotta Szczepanowski
Head of Sustainability, COOP
Mattias Goldmann, chairman
Victoria Olsson,
Head of Sustainability, Arla
Fredrik Nilzén,
Head of Sustainability, Swedbank
Erica Kronhöffer,
Head of Sustainability,
Green Cargo
Åsa Domeij,
Head of Sustainability, Axfood
Pär Holmgren,
Member of the European Parliament
Helena Hagberg,
Head of Sustainability, Skandia
Christina Båge Friborg,
Head of Sustainability, SSAB
Anna Augustsson,
Head of Sustainability, Telia
Johan Kuylenstierna,
Professor, Chairman of the Climate Policy Council
Carolina Brick,
Head of Sustainability, Riksbyggen
Claes Johansson,
Head of Sustainability, Lantmännen
Staffan Fredlund,
Head of Climate and the Environment, Wihlborgs
Anders Modig, PhD,
Head of Water, Tyréns
Marie Trogstam,
Head of Sustainability, AFRY
Johanna Sandahl,
Chairman of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation
Mia Edofsson,
Head of Sustainability, Akademiska Hus
Mattias Lindahl
Professor, Department of Economic and Industrial Development, LIU
Björn-Ola Linnér
Professor, researching politics for climate-adapted communities, LIU
Jessica Cederberg Wodmar, sustainability expert
Niclas Ihrén, PhD
sustainability expert traffic, entrepreneur
Fredrika Gullfot, PhD
entrepreneur, founder Simris Alg
(algaes)
Gabriel Lundström,
Head of Sustainability, SEB
Anders Wijkman
climate change expert, former Member of the European parliament
Stephan Barthel
Professor, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Gävle högskola
Gabriel Wikström
National coordinator, Agenda 2030
Svante Axelsson,
National coordinator, Fossil Free Sweden
Aaron Tuckey,
project manager och climate analyst, Environmental Protection Agency
Stina Berge
Chairman Yennenga Progress
Katarina Roos, Head of
Product Support, Innovation
and R&D, Stora Enso
Katarina Roos, Head of
Product Support, Innovation
and R&D, Stora Enso
Katarina Roos, Head of
Product Support, Innovation
and R&D, Stora Enso
Katarina Roos, Head of
Product Support, Innovation
and R&D, Stora Enso
Katarina Roos, Head of
Product Support, Innovation
and R&D, Stora Enso
Gabriel Wikström
National coordinator, Agenda 2030
Expert panel meets school class
St Anna school in Söderköping and professor Johan Kuylenstierna, October 11th
The voices of the future
We are passionate about involving young people in topics about their future.
Ka Widebeck
Anders Varger, chairman
Anders Carlsson
Are you a student, teacher or principal and want to get in touch with Framtidens röster?
Or do you represent a municipality and are curious about the future journey, and how we can approach your municipality?
Maybe you represent a company and you want to work with us and show your efforts for a planet-friendly future.
Welcome to Framtidens röster!
During and after the UN conference
During the UN conference, exhibitions, workshops and interviews are conducted. The voices of the future gather school classes from across the country, so that the whole of Sweden is exposed during the conference. We invite municipalities to the collaboration that acts as hubs.
The UN conference is only the first step. In the autumn of 2022, our work will continue for children, adolescents, politicians, civil servants, corporations, researchers and experts of all ages to learn from each other.
The non-profit association
Framtidens röster
Anders Carlsson
Many years of experience in sustainability issues, from teaching material development for preschool children, to sustainability coordination at Linköping University. Feel free to talk to me about how sustainability work can be done playfully and constructively.
Anders Varger
High school teacher in business administration and entrepreneurship. Also runs a company in sustainable urban development; Hubville. Contact me if you are interested in corporate sponsorship. Chairman of Framtidens röster.
Ka Widebeck
Communicator with a focus on change in collaboration with companies and organizations that want to make a difference. Ask me how you can engage your school class. An interdisciplinary work that includes 8 subjects in the curriculum.