Fanny Coward from SCM Norway reflects on friendships, faith and democracy at the youth training of the Youth in 4D project in Paris.
On behalf of Forbundet, or SCM Norway, I attended a course in Paris on democracy, participation and the role Christian communities can play in this work. Forbundet is an independent Christian student organisation in Norway, and part of the international WSCF network. Through WSCF, we get the opportunity to connect with Christian students from other countries and work together on issues that go beyond our own national context.
The course in Paris was the final gathering of the Youth in 4D project, Discover, Defend and Drive Democracy. More than 30 participants from different SCMs, churches and organisations across Europe, as well as North America, took part. The course brought together students and young adults across countries, denominations and theological traditions, with a focus on social justice and strengthening young people’s voices in both the Church and society.
During the five days, we explored how young people can participate in democracy, how democracy connects with Christian values, and how we can take an active role in our own communities. The course used non-formal learning, with workshops, discussions and creative activities rather than traditional teaching.
For me, the greatest value was meeting and learning from the other participants. Everyone brought perspectives shaped by their own country, church and organisation. Hearing experiences from places such as Sweden, Germany, Finland, Georgia, Kosovo and Italy gave me new insight into how young people and faith communities can respond to anti-democratic narratives and build more inclusive societies. We were encouraged not to look for one correct solution, but to reflect on how different approaches could work in our own contexts.
We stayed at Association des étudiants Protestants de Paris, a student residence in the middle of the city, where we shared rooms with other participants. Personally, I really enjoyed sharing a room with another participant. My roommate was kind, thoughtful and funny, and before going to bed, we stayed up talking about the day we had had and about our lives back home. What’s not to like?
The programme usually ran from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but there was still plenty of time to experience Paris. The other participants were all very friendly, so I spent a lot of time with them in the evenings. We had dinner together, explored the city, played games, watched the World Cup and went to karaoke. I came back home with new perspectives, new friendships and plenty of inspiration to bring back to SCM Norway.
