Generation North Atlantic was a youth conference held in Bodø and Lofoten from September 16–19, 2024. GNA was organized as a pre-event specifically tailored to young people from the NORA region, ahead of the Generation Barents conference — a similar youth event gathering youth from across the Nordic countries. The conference brought together 20 young participants from the NORA region with the goal of creating a platform to strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the region, build networks, and gain insight into shared regional issues.

In collaboration with Nordland County Council, NORA was responsible for the planning and implementation of the event, with a focus on the region’s future, youth engagement, and sustainable development.

During the conference, participants were introduced to various industries and businesses around Bodø and Lofoten through presentations, lectures, and workshops. In addition to hearing from Nord University about their various cooperation programs, the participants visited local entrepreneurs who have successfully leveraged the region’s unique characteristics — including local businesses such as the patisserie Craig Alibone in Bodø, glass artist Mette Paalgard, and the creative hub Trevarefabrikken in Henningsvær, Lofoten.

They also visited institutions such as the Lofoten Aquarium and Lofotr Viking Museum, which further highlighted the shared cultural and historical connections between participants.

‍

‍

The conference was praised by attendees as a unique arena where youth from the region could discuss questions and challenges with peers facing similar circumstances. The opportunity to connect and build networks across the region was a highlight for all participants. One part that stood out in particular was the interactive workshop held onboard the coastal ferry between Bodø and Lofoten.

In the workshop, participants divided into groups based on what they identified as key challenges in their respective regions. Each group then developed a project idea and drafted a fictional grant application to NORA. The ideas showcased a broad range of challenges and opportunities from across the region, and the winning concept was a social media campaign that highlighted positive narratives about life in small towns and rural communities.

‍

‍

Stig Heggli Kleftår from Mo i Rana, Norway, shared his experience from the event:

I thought it was absolutely magical to connect with people across the northern regions. I realized we have so much in common, and we should collaborate more with smaller towns and communities in places like Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland. My hometown might even have more in common with those areas than with the major cities like Oslo, Bergen, or Trondheim. I’m taking the energy and knowledge from this experience back into my work and civic involvement — and, more broadly, as a citizen of the North. It was cultural exchange, insight, and experiences I wouldn’t want to be without!

‍