The goal of this program is to connect early-career Arctic and European youth aged 18-35 with mentors across Arctic communities in the fields of Arctic policy development, advocacy, and communications. The aim is to provide youth with the experiences and tools they need to effectively advocate for policy changes on issues important to the livelihoods of youth in the Arctic and in Europe.
The mentorship program is part of the 2024-2027 EU funded project Youth Together for Arctic Futures, which APECS is also a partner in. The mentorship program has two cohorts of up to 7 pairs, running for 18 months each. Knowledge sharing between mentor/mentee pairs, and across the cohorts, is expected. The first cohort will run from October 2024 through March 2026. The in-person kick-off event will be held in Akureyri, Iceland October 13-14, 2024. Travel funding will be provided for mentees to take part in the in-person kick-off event.
During the program participants will join both in-person and digital networking events. A deliverable will also be produced in each mentor/mentee pair which will boost mentor/mentee portfolios, and can lead to further networking opportunities.
Applicants should be enthusiastic young people 18-35 who have lived experience in the Arctic, or are interested in working on Arctic issues. Mentees should be able to demonstrate their commitment to the Arctic region and Arctic peoples. No experience is required, but we encourage anyone interested in policy development, advocacy, or communications in the Arctic region to apply. The program coordinators will pair each mentee with an appropriate mentor in one of these fields based on the interests and experiences of the mentee. We encourage people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and abilities to apply. Participants must be able to participate in discussions and activities in English.
The application period for the first cohort is July 17-August 12, 2024. Please visit Arctic Mayors' webpage about the program for the complete details and the link to the application form.
