Join the International Youth Exchange in Finland now
Young people aged 18–29 from Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are invited to an international youth exchange in Nurmes, Finland, from 3–10 August 2026. Participants will help design the program themselves, focusing on music, singing, dance, culture and international friendship. The camp is part of the newly certified Singing Heritage Route and aims to build lasting connections between young people across Northern and Baltic Europe. Travel, accommodation and meals are covered through Erasmus+, and the week will culminate in public performances created by the participants. Five participants and one or two group leaders will be selected from each partner country.
Youth exchange 2026
The youth camp will be held in Eastern Finland. The program is set up so the youth themselves decide what to do on the camp. However, it is obvious that many among our young people are interested in song, music, and dance.
This concept has been done before by the people at Hyvärilä in Nurmes, and it works. The only set part of the program is to make a music/song/dance performance in Nurmes and Kuhmo (an hour north of Nurmes) at the end of the camp week.
Want to join? Send an email to [email protected] or call +47 901 444 67
Why this camp is important
These camps will be important culturally, lingually, organizationally, and financially. The Singing Heritage Route is an enduring endeavour. It will connect young people from Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in years to come.
These camps are financed by the European Union. The long-term funding is secured through good camps.
The success of The Singing Heritage Route will also be attributed to being able to establish lasting connections between people in all these countries.
The camp schedule
Arrival 3. August at 20:00 to Nurmes, activity days 4-9 August in Nurmes, then the group goes to Kuhmo for one night and departure home on 10. August from Kuhmo.
Financial issues
There is flexibility when buying tickets via organizations or participants. Depending on the organisation in each country payment can be done in advance or by reimbursement.
We will use distance calculator for organisations – Erasmus+ to check travel limits. The calculator has a focus on green travel arrangements. The travel budgets must be standard; however, the camp will cover travel, accommodation and meals.
Program activities
On 8. august in Nurmes there is an Open Doors event. It would be nice to organize a concert at the end of the project, and the last day will be in Kuhmo. On option is a visit to Koli national park. Nevertheless, the program will be built by the participants themselves based on their wishes for learning.
The results of the first meeting
Partners from Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, and Norway had a meeting the other week. These are what we will be working on for the next few weeks:
Selection of participants: Five persons age 18-29, and one or two group leaders who are 18+ years old, no upper limit.
Milestones
- Selection to be made as soon as possible,
- Answers to 12 questions from young people before 15.6.2026.
- Buying tickets before 1.7.2026.
- Activity agreements before 1.7.2026.
- Program building meeting online first week of July for all the participants.
Questions for participators
The participants will answer as set of questions to create a program that will be motivating participants.
- Why do you want to participate in this youth exchange?
- Why should this YE be done?
Expectations and learning goals
- What do you expect from this youth exchange?
- What do you want to learn? (about the main aims and theme, other countries and cultures, skills and attitudes etc…)
Own contribution and input
- What could you to give to others as participant (your culture, skills, activities, ideas, attitudes, etc.)?
Program and activities
- What kind of activities there should be in the YE program (related to the theme / topic, methods and the venue)?
- What kind of activities you could share to other participants? (games, energizers etc.)
- What kind of activities / tasks related to the theme and aims participants could prepare
- How all the participants could get to know each other / keep contact during the process?
Follow-up and dissemination
- What this youth exchange will give you? What are the benefits?
- Where do you need these skills / things you learn in your life?
- How could you share your experience for others who don’t know anything about it?
(Friends, school mates, family, local community. Give concrete ideas, not only general examples.)
Next meeting on 15.6.2026 at 16:00 Finnish time
By then we will have the list of participants ready and an idea of the topics of the camp.
Interested?
Send an email to [email protected] or call +47 901 444 67