As mentioned in the previous section, our objective was (together with both project partners, youth partners, and local participants) to explore our common stories, culture, and languages but also the barriers many face when trying to identify as Scandinavian (mainly linked to issues of racism). Through workshops and dialogue, we wanted express our stories, identities and to challenge racism and prejudices and try to expand the views of what it means to be Scandinavian. In addition to this, we also wanted to foster a new partnership between the Scandinavian countries, and hopefully expand this project to include the rest of the Nordic countries. Because we believe that these objectives are relevant throughout all the Nordic countries. And as this was a youth project we also wanted to explore how young people can be included as project partners - since it is their stories and experiences that needed (and still needs) to be in the forefront of projects like this.
With this project we aimed to foster partnerships, dialogue and finding community and common interests, language and culture across the Scandinavian countries. Through painting workshops, using the techniques of Peace Painting, we wanted to challenge and discuss what it means to be young in Scandinavia, build an inclusive Scandinavian identity - and challenge current views of what that means. And thereby giving young people the opportunity to find their place and identity in a co- created space by having dialogues about inclusion and diversity. This project was a pilot project and the beginning of a partnership, where the project partners, the young partners and local participants: explored our common stories, culture and languages but also the barriers many face when trying to identify as Scandinavian (mainly linked to issues of racism) through workshops and dialogue, expressed our stories, identities and challenged racism and prejudices and tried to expand the sometimes rigid views of what it means to be Scandinavian.