The municipality of Vefsn in the north of Norway received the Youth Municipality of the Year award in 2021. According to members of the youth council, its greatest achievement was that it managed to maintain its work and procedures during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We did everything we were supposed to do. We got all the things we always do, done also during the crisis.” (Adam Ulvang, leader of the youth council)
This is a rare achievement.
The Mosjø model for participation is named after a town in Vefsn Municipality in Nordland County. The model comprises two interconnecting zones, one political and administrative zone and one youth zone. The zones constitute different areas of work. At the heart of the model is cooperation between the youth council and the local decision-making bodies in the municipality, as well as cooperation between the youth council and other local children and youth.