Students presenting their schools and businesses. Photo: Anne G. Johansen

Yesterday we led a process in Kirkenes for 60 young great entrepreneurs living in Norway, Sweden and Russia. Guest lectures were held by businessman Trond Haukanes from Sør-Varanger Invest and editor Thomas Nilsen from Barents Observer. The entrepreneurs did group work where they created fictional businesses based on each groups interest and skills, they pitched success factors for each other, and gave great presentations from their regions.

The workshop was a part of Barents Innovation Week arranged by Ungt Entreprenørskap Finnmark.

Posters presenting fictional Barents businesses.

Theme of the day

Resources & Strategies: what are the resources — their potential and threats? 

High North policy has experienced a fundamental change. The challenge is to adjust the historical perspective and the political restrictions of the past and move forward to the economic opportunities of the future.

Boost exercise to give each other good energy. Photo: Anne G. Johansen

Was a pleasure to work with ya’ll! Thanks!

FN-Sambandet on a RRR-workshop in Tromsö. Good vibes!

FN-Sambandet in Tromsö has been a cooperation partner for Reggae Rock and Rights Tour right from the start. So it made us really happy to get an invitation to hold workshop for people working at FN-Sambandet all over Norway during their meeting in Tromsö in May. Good vibes going on!

Photo: Martin Falck

We spent last weekend in Soppero, Sweden, exploring the thoughts of youth during a one day workshop. The workshop was arranged by Projekt Dievát, which you can read more about here (swedish) and of course like on Facebook. Amazing people, amazing day. We look forward to next time we have the chance to stop by!

Photo: Martin Falck

Photo: Michael Miller

Join Barents Passion Week!

Reggae Rock and Rights Tour is producing the Barents Passion Week this fall, where professional and semi-professional artist gather for exciting and inspiring days together.

Barents Passion Week was arranged for the first time last year in the Norwegian border town of Kirkenes. 80 youth from all over the Barents Region gathered to exchange experiences, enjoy life, be creative and express their passion for the good life in the High North. Now we’re planning a second leg! And this year we will have an even stronger focus on the actual art.

You want to join? We want you to! To participate you have to live in the Barents Region and be 18 – 30 years old. Working language is english. Passion Week is happening in Kirkenes the last weekend of October 2011, from th 26th to 30th.

Show us your interest by signing up here and follow the preparations for Passion Week 2011 on the blogg and facebook.

Jens leading the Future Workshop today.

There has been a three day Sami Future Conference in Sweden, where around 200 participants from all over Sweden gathered to discuss how they want the future in Sápmi to be like. We are grateful and happy that we got the chance to be there and hold one of the final workshops today.

We talked about the master suppression techniques and explored the opposite – the supportive techniques. We can support each other deliberately to create a working atmosphere in a group where everyone can feel confident and keep a positive approach to the common work. A long sentence, I know, but the content of the workshop was a lot of fun, a lot of talking, exercises and ENERGY for the future common work. Thank you everyone who were there!

Participants doing a creativity exercise to get the flow going.

The Sami Future Conference was arranged by the Sami Parliament in Sweden and you can read more about it in swedish here and here and see some photos here.

Our workshop had the theme “equality” and was held by Halvard, Jens and Ylva from Reggae Rock and Rights Tour together with Ellacarin Blind from Sámiid Riikkasearvi.

Today will be full of interesting speeches, like:

• Back to the future – offerfri kommunikation, Johan Ailo Kalstad
• Gosa láidet mii min bártniid? – Vart leder vi våra söner? Jens Martin Mienna
• Exploateringar inom Sápmi: strategier, allianser och lärdomar, Rebecca Lawrence.

We will lead a workshop tomorrow morning with around 60 participants, focusing on equality and tools to create the future we wish for. Future – our favourite subject!

You can read about the conference here (Swedish), see the programme here and listen live streaming here.

Photo: Michael Miller

We spent last week in Kirkenes, Norway, arranging Barents Passion Week together with BRYC. A unique meeting between 80 creative people in the four countries, working with different arts to show their passion for Barents.

Kirkenes was invited to enjoy yummie muffins and great arts at the café.

The final was a Barents Passion Café where Kirkenes were invited to share the feeling and inspiration from all of our workshops with us.

Read more about the event in Nordlys, Barents Observer and of course the Passion Blog…and in these newspapers:

“Adam has shown the power of initiative and commitment in his work with the pilot documentary film where he follows the project managers for The Reggae Rock and Rights Tour which unites human rights, music, film and youth involvement in society in a way that inspires youth in the Barents region.”

Congrats Adam, the filmmaker who have been with us in RRR right from the start, who last week received a well-earned scholarship from Västerbottens Landsting!

Read an article about it in Västerbottens Folkblad.

Have a great summer everyone!