“Educated and active youth from the regions is the core for democratic development in Belarus”, states Gennady Grushevoy who received the Rafto Prize in 1999 in recognition of his work for democracy and human rights in Belarus.

Long term follow up work
After the Chernobyl catastrophe in 1986 Belarus faced many problems which mainly influenced the younger generation. These are the problems in different spheres of life, and though 24 years have passed many of them are still difficult to overcome. Can young people who have grown in this environment hope for a happy future? Can the younger generation resist violence, trafficking, ecological problems and overcome social inequality, build international connections?

Gennady Grushevoy chairs the non-governmental organisation ”Children of Chernobyl” which helps Belarusian children travel abroad to rest in a healthier environment and receive medical treatment.

Grushevoy also works with civil movement initiatives involving young people from different regions in Belarus and contributes to development of youth centres throughout the country, where young Belarusians meet to address social, political and cultural issues.

Look into the future
Gennady Grushevoy and his organisation have for many years arranged annual youth festivals and conferences in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, under the common name of the project “Look into the future”. Participants of the project are different regional youth centers, Belarusian and foreign NGOs.

The Rafto foundation got involved in the organisation of the youth festival “Look into the future” in 2008. In addition to a representative from the Rafto foundation, three young Norwegians from the NGO “Fantasiforbundet” participated at the festival 2010.

Belarusian youth shares their experiences
Around 200 young volunteers of youth social centers from 15 regions in Belarus met for two days in Minsk on 4-5 December 2010, for the tenth youth festival ”Youth. Europe. Future”.

Many young Belarusians are active and willing to be aware of challenges Belarus and Belarusian people face. They look for the ways to solve these problems, are full of ideas and energy to make these ideas come true.

The project gives the opportunity for young people to exchange their social experience, to organise interregional and international contacts, to create new initiative groups, to work out social projects and to stimulate further developments of the youth movement. The aim for this year’s festival was to state the role of the youth in the contemporary Europe and develop the projects for further cooperation.

In order to take part in the festival the teams had to prepare a theatrical musical performance on the main subject “Youth. Europe. Future” and through performance cover one or several actual themes for young people – the youth and contemporary society, culture, social sphere, economic development, environment, education, cooperation of the youth from European countries.

Each team also had to prepare a retrospective “Vision of the past” – present the history of the participation of their region in the festival and show the highlights of their previous performances.

The second day of the festival included “European Star Show” – young stars were given the opportunity to show one’s talent, creativity, originality and win the hearts of the audience.

Need for international cooperation
Freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association is limited in Belarus under the rule of president Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Lukashenka systematically curtails press freedom. An August 2008 media law gives the state a monopoly over information about political, social, and economic affairs. Belarusian national television is under the control of the state and does not provide coverage of alternative and opposition views.

The young generation in Belarus, especially youth living in regions, is thirsty for information and input from abroad, for international contacts and cooperation. One of the main prizes in the youth festival was a satellite antenna. In this way Gennady Grushevoy tries to develop regional youth centers, so young people can access information at least at the local NGOs.

Last dictator in Europe
Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has been the president of Belarus since 1994, has often been called “the last dictator in Europe”. In 2004 a referendum was held which eliminated presidential term limits and allowed him to stand for the presidency again and again. Lukashenka is running for the top post for the fourth time and most likely will win re-election.

Ten other candidates have expressed their intentions to run against Alyaksandr Lukashenka in the presidential elections on 19 December 2010, but the opposition remains fragmented. Lukashenka’s closest challenger, Alexander Milinkevich, has called the election “a farce”.

Independent civil society groups in Belarus remain active despite authorities’ attempts to control them. Although the organisers of the tenth youth festival “Youth. Europe. Future” met some obstacles and challenges in the planning process, Gennady Grushevoy is determined to continue his work with Belarusian youth.

“Work with the youth and organising this annual festival keeps me young and gives me energy to continue projects aiming for democracy development in Belarus”, concluded the 1999 Rafto Prize laureate after this year’s meeting in Minsk.

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