Project Details
Youth Together for Arctic Futures is a project co-funded by the European Union and Canada, and administered by the World Wildlife Foundation. The project aims to connect Arctic and European youth aged 18-35, and to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and network they need work towards implementing good climate and natures policy in the Arctic that supports sustainable development in the region.
Project Partners
Arctic Mentorship Program
As part of the Youth Together for Arctic Futures project, the Arctic Mayors’ Forum is coordinating a Mentorship Program. The program is co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Canada. Between 2024 and 2027, the Arctic Mayors’ Forum will oversee up to 14 pairs of mentors and mentees engaging in the program.
The goal of the program is to connect early career Arctic and European youth aged 18-35 with mentors in the fields of Arctic policy development, advocacy, and communications. The aim is to provide youth with the experiences and tools they need to effectively advocate for policy changes on issues important to the livelihoods of youth in the Arctic and in Europe.
Mentorship Cohort One – 2024-26
The first cohort of the Arctic Mentorship Project met for the first time in Akureyri during October 2024. The six mentor/mentee pairs spent three days working together on getting to know each other, and making a plan to collaborate over the next 18-months until March 2026.
Mentor/Mentee Pairs:
Daniel Smirat/Johana Franke
Mieke Coppes/Inès Hamila
Courtney Price/Nels Ure
Mayor Asisaun Toovak/Annie Son Riley
Joël Plouffe/Daniel Lyberth-Hauptmann
Mentorship Cohort Two – 2025-27
The second cohort of the Arctic Mentorship Project met for the first time in Yellowknife during September 2025. The seven mentor/mentee pairs spent two days working together on getting to know each other, and making a plan to collaborate over the next 18-months until February 2027.
Mentor/Mentee Pairs:
Mellisa Kwok/Mary Buckland
Kristina Bär/Kristian Daljord
Ole Kristian Bjerkemo/Francesco Scognamiglio
Mayor Grier Hopkins/John Natcher
Julia Seljeseth/Maiken Salamonsen
Nikoosh Carlo/Jasleen Jawanda
Mayor Ben Hendriksen/Arielle Wiggin
Arctic Youth Dialogue
The Arctic Youth Dialogue is a platform aimed at fostering dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among young people interested in the Arctic region. This dialogue gathers about 35 youth from diverse backgrounds across Europe and the Arctic states to exchange ideas, perspectives, and experiences on Arctic topics.
Arctic Youth Dialogue aims to:
- Provide a platform for young people to discuss Arctic climate and environmental issues.
- Empower Arctic and European youth to become active participants in shaping the future of the Arctic region and foster cross-cultural understanding.
- Foster collaboration among young European and Arctic inhabitants, including Indigenous People.
