Nordic Youth Conference 2023
Information in English
The National Spiritual Assembly of Norway has in consultation with Counsellor Saba Mazza the pleasure of extending an invitation to youth and junior youth between the ages of 12 and 40, in your countries to the Nordic Youth Conference of 2023 which will be held in the neighborhood of Fjell, in the city of Drammen, at Galterud Skole from April 5th to 9th 2023. In its message to the friends gathered at the Nordic Youth Conference, the Universal House of Justice writes that:
“In every part of the Nordic region are to be found a multitude of souls, young and old, who yearn for the spiritual values inherent in the Bahá’í teachings, the fountain from which flow enduring happiness and fulfilment.” and “As the Cause of God advances along the path traced out for it by its Divine Author, each stage of the process opens up to a new generation of youth challenges unique to that historical moment. Indeed, you convene at a time of unprecedented opportunity and need.”
- The Universal House of Justice, April 2019
The youth conference like previous years aim to continue the vision of the Universal House of Justice and give youth an opportunity to reach out and learn together, shoulder by shoulder, with focus on action and service, and the institute process as a tool. The conference will consist of meaningful conversations, transformation, arts and music, friendship, service, prayer, study and joy. We hope that in the coming months and the activities leading to the conference will also be able to draw together groups of youth and junior youth in different contexts so that one can see the conference as a part of a process that will continue after the conference- and not be just an event.
We would like to invite all youth between the ages 12 - 40 years to participate and ask everyone’s support in encouraging participation.
Start: Arrival April 5th
End: Departure April 9th
Venue: Galterud Skole (Solsvingen 80) in Drammen, neighborhood of Fjell
Who: Youth between 12 and 40 years old
Image from the youth conference in Fjell, Norway - April 2019.
The conference matters to everyone, no matter their age. Everyone can help to support the youth to “become aware of the contribution they can make to the improvement of their society” 1. This can be assisted through informing youth in our families and friends about the conference and that we partake in conversations with the youth, especially in local gatherings where youth are that have “have proved to be ideal occasions for bringing an intensity to this ongoing conversation” 2.
There is no doubt that Bahá’u’lláhs vision of a just and peaceful world order appeals to engaged people who wish to contribute selflessly with service to the common good. “the community of the Greatest Name is able to give shape to the highest aspirations of young people,” 3 the Universal House of Justice states. We look forward to this and hope that as many as possible have the possibility to set aside the time to participate! Youth from Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden are all welcome to the Nordic Youth Conference of 2023.
1 The Universal House of Justice, 29.12.2015 par. 35
2 The Universal House of Justice, 29.12.2015 par. 35
3 The Universal House of Justice, 29.12.2015 par. 34
Please read below for practical information and registration.
Registration and practical information
Date and time
Start: Arrival Wednesday April 5th, program starts on Thursday April 6th
End: Sunday April 9th at 18.00
Place
The conference will be held at Galterud Skole, (Solsvingen 80) in Drammen, the neighborhood of Fjell.
Registration
Registration can be done by filling out the registration form below. Please read also read through the rest of the practical information on this page.
REGISTER HERE!
Deadline for registration is March 22nd. Registration after this date requires you to contact the NYC team through Åshild Dybwad or +4798023599.
Registration is final when the payment is received.
Children
If you have children, you can also bring them to the conference. There will be children’s classes for them. The program will be suitable for children between 5 and 11 years old.
Accommodation, cost and payment
The cost of the conference is based on accommodation type and length of stay. Selecting accommodation means you will get accommodation at hotel Clarion River Station in Drammen. The different price options are listed below. Accommodations at the hotel are from the evening of April 5th to the evening of April 9th (4-nights with check out at 12 PM on April 9th). Children 9 and under can share room with parents at no cost. For children 10 and above, accommodation is required. Accommodation options include food, bus and materials.
If you select “Gym hall / Home stay”, you will be placed in the homes of bahá’ís in the surrounding area or cluster or the gym hall. This option costs 1350 NOK / 130 EUR which includes lunches, dinners, transport and other conference costs.
If you select “No accommodation” you will not require accommodation and this option costs 1200 NOK / 115 EUR which includes lunches and dinners at the venue.
Below the options are described, but you have to select your choice in the registration link above.
Accommodation options:
4-nights hotel accommodation in single room (April 5th-9th) 5600 NOK / 525 EUR
4-nights hotel accommodation in double room (April 5th-9th) 4000 NOK / 375 EUR
4-nights hotel accommodation in triple room (April 5th-9th) 3700 NOK / 350 EUR
4-nights hotel accommodation in quadruple room (April 5th-9th) 3500 NOK / 330 EUR
4-nights gym hall / home stay (April 5th-9th) 1350 NOK / 130 EUR (must bring own sleeping bag, towel, etc.)
4 days without accommodations (April 6th-9th) 1200 NOK / 120 EUR
Extra night accommodation:
If you wish to stay until April 10th you can select an extra night’s accommodation. Departure date factors into room sharing. Those sharing rooms must arrive and depart on the same day.
1-night hotel accommodation in single room 950 NOK / 90 EUR
1-night hotel accommodation in double room 550 NOK / 53 EUR
1-night hotel accommodation in triple room 470 NOK / 45 EUR
1-night hotel accommodation in quadruple room 430 NOK / 41 EUR
1-night hotel accommodation in gym hall / home stay 50 NOK / 5 EUR
Children’s Conference costs (9 years and under)
For children 9 years and under, there is no accommodation costs at hotel or in the gym / home stay. However, there are other conference costs, including food (50% discount), transportation (from hotel) and conference materials, which need to be paid.
4-nights in hotel 1200 NOK / 110 EUR
4-night gym hall / home stay 640 NOK / 60 EUR
4-day with no accommodation option, 560 NOK / 52 EUR
Payment is done by transferring the correct amount to the following account (Norway):
Account no.: 1506.21.95670 (for Norway)
Account name: Bahá’í Youth Conference
IBAN: NO3615062195670
BIC / SWIFT: DNBANOKK
Name: Bahá’í-samfunnet i Norge
Address: Hamang Terrasse 63, 1336 Sandvika
Mark the payment with “Your name” + Youth Conference
Deadline for payment is March 15th.
Financial support
If you need financial support, you can apply for this. We recommend Norwegian participants to first apply to the Local Spiritual Assembly in the city you live (if there is one). Otherwise, apply to the National Spiritual Assembly in your country.
Note that the registration fee must still be paid in full even if you apply for financial support.
Transportation
There will be transportation arranged to and from the hotel and Galterud Skole during the conference, in addition to those who have home stay accommodation. To get to Drammen (the city where Galterud Skole is) by airplane, you need to take a flight to Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL).
Airport Express Train: For arrival and departure it is possible to take a train to and from the train station in Drammen (Strømsø Torg 1) to Oslo Airport Gardermoen. The easiest is to use the Airport Express Train which departs every 20 minutes. The journey takes 1 hour from Gardermoen. It is free for youth/children younger than 16 years old, as long as they travel with someone who is at least 16. Youth from 16 to 20 years pay half price (140 NOK, approx 13 EUR). Students up to 31 years old also pay half price by showing valid student ID (140 NOK, approx 13 EUR). Normal adult rate is 280 NOK, approx 26 EUR. Clarion Hotel River Station is next to the train station.
Note that if you are taking the Airport Express Train from Gardermoen, make sure to take the one that goes all the way to Drammen (there are others that stop earlier).
From Drammen Station you can take bus number 3 to Fjell, Galterud Skole, but please note that during the Easter holiday, the routes are different from normal. Please visit https://www.vy.no/en
Guardian
If you by April 5th 2023 have not turned 18 years old, you must be accompanied by a guardian who is an adult (over 21) to have formal responsibility for you during the conference in case any special circumstances arise. This is preferably another older participant, an older sibling or a person assigned by the National Spiritual Assembly of your country. In addition, you must send or bring the Parental Consent Form (send it to NYC contact email).
Rules
There are some rules and guidelines for the conference that has to be followed. Please read through them here:
Rules and guidelines
Things to bring
Prayer book
Student / school ID for discounts on trains, buses, etc.
Sleeping bag (for those in home-stay accommodation)
Attached parental consent form (if you’re younger than 18 years old)
Towel, toothbrush, shampoo etc.
Medicines
Your favourite writing tools/arts materials
It might rain. So, bring enough change of clothes as we’ll be spending some time outdoors.
Sports clothes/equipment
Your musical instrument or items for arts performance
Do you wish to help?
If you wish to volunteer for service at the conference (f.ex. help with cooking, cleaning, medical care assistance etc.) you can inform the Youth Conference team (see contact information below).
Questions?
Don’t hesitate to contact the Nordic Youth Conference team if you have any questions:
E-mail: ashilddybwad@outlook.com
Phone: +4798023599