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Typical folkbildning!
We come from a part of the world some call cold. There are people that believe ice bears roam our streets. Folkbildning is a part of what is sometimes called the “Nordic Model”. We are proud of our achievements, but bragging is not in our nature, so we do not know how to best explain what we have without sounding too selfconcious or proud.

(Say after me: Vapaa Sivistystyö. Good. Now say: Folkeopplysning. Now say Alþýðufræðsla . After a democratic vote we decided to now use the term FOLKBILDNING! )

Folkbildning can be

1.      individuals in a group
2.      curious minds in active bodies
3.      where you can agree to disagree
4.      my desire to learn
5.      learning by doing
6.      learning by laughter
7.      a chance to discover yourself, your neighbor, and everyone else
8.    everywhere
9.    open to all – even to you!
10.  easy to access
11.  the smell of coffee and cinnamon rolls
12.  the chats we have, the books we read, the thoughts we get
13.  your life, your ideas, my reactions
14.  a warm house during the cold long winter
15.  empowering you to participate in society
16.  where we decide ourselves what to learn
17.  learning because you wish, want and can
18. learning to develop democracy
19. fighting prejudice, mine and yours
20. the biker meeting the granny

21 a place to make your voices heard

22 Nordic lust

23 the local meeting place

24 the first step in a new direction

25 a lifelong learning
So what was that all about?
When we tried to translate ”Folkbildning” we ran into a wall. The concept could be called “popular enlightenment” or “Nordic enlightenment”. Some even call it non-formal adult education. To explain this phenomena, a Nordic group of adult educators have set up these statements on what typical folkbilding really could be.

A typical trait in the Nordic Countires is that the state provides financial support to folkbildning. It is generally agreed that folkbildning should be run separately from the state, but be financed by public funds. The importance of folkbildning to the Nordic societies is recognized by all political parties. Folkbildning is a cornerstone in our civil society and thus crucial for democracy.