Human Beings Dare to Act Even When it is Dangerous

In 1994, Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002), the Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays was awarded the Right Livelihood Award owing to “her unique authorship dedicated to the rights of children and respect for their individuality”. Lindgren’s books have been translated into 95 different languages, sold in over 170 million copies, and a collection of her original manuscripts is added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World International Register.

Lindgren is most notable for several children’s book series, like Pippi Longstocking (1941) and children’s fantasy novels like Ronja the Robber’s Daughter (1981). The main feature of her writing is courageous kids and youth who refuse oppressive norms of parochial adults and stand up for the well-being and rights of the most vulnerable human beings. There is a touching scene in the Brothers Lionheart (1973) when the older brother Jonathan is about to sacrifice his life in the fight against the evil tyrant Tengil. He explains to his younger brother Skorpan that there are things one must do, even when it is dangerous, since ‘otherwise you’re not a human being, just a little shit’.

While recent years have been marred with democratic backsliding, rampant climate change, and ruthless military attacks on other countries, during the same time Gen Z around world has shown that they, like Jonathan Lionheart, are human beings when courageously taking the lead for change even when they are met with fierce brutality.

A few months ago, we started the IYTT Gen Z project, seeking to build a truthful, grounded, and global understanding of this Gen Z-led action. Our motivation is to increase the validity of how Gen Z is understood by documenting what young people are doing, how they organize, and what they themselves say about their actions.

One of the most remarkable examples of Gen Z power is the regime change in Nepal. This stunning occurrence testifies to the positive impact of youth and adds additional inspiration when we are going to Asia this year to run our eight annual youth conference. I am extremely proud that the renowned Global Green Growth Institute, founded by the former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, is hosting our conference, on August 31 thru September 3.

After seven years of hard work on democratic innovation, the IYTT has been graciously appreciated for our endeavors as I have been awarded the Charles F. Kettering Global Fellowship 2026. I am immensely grateful for this recognition, and it provides invaluable opportunities for connection, solidarity, and mutual learning with like-minded individuals and organizations.

We have very intense months ahead of us with lots of activities. In May we will run Neighbourhooding Democracy in Malmö; contribute to ACT NOW! Mayors’ Conference 2026 in Cascais; travel to Prague to engage in the Global Democracy Coalitions’ annual European Forum and organize a panel with signatories of Charta 77 and Charta 25; and finalize the European part of Namatai Kwekweza’s lecture series ‘MEMENTO: Memory, Hope and the Birth of a New Order’. In June we will go to Malmö to run Summer Camps and contribute to the democracy gathering Malmö Meets. In July 20 Youth Fellows from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America will engage in the second Gothenburg World Youth Openness and Democracy Summit, and in the last week of July I will travel to Washington DC to engage in the Charles F. Kettering Foundation’s meetings and seminars.

It is a unique honor to evolve the IYTT together with you, all blazingly brilliant and good-hearten Youth Fellows, and it undoubtedly gives hope for a brighter future. Big thanks to all of you!

Since July 1 last year, I have been blessed having a hard-working colleague in Elena Vocale, working as a project coordinator. Huge thanks to you Elena for extraordinary contributions and encouraging comradeship.

I way of thanks, our progression is unthinkable if it hadn’t been for our Board and our Nomination Committee, the support from our generous grant providers the Sten A Olsson Foundation, Interreg North Sea funding the Speak Up project co-financed by Region Västra Götaland, and The Hamrin Foundation; our generous donors Lars Brune, Selma Olsson Åkefeldt, Filous Vänner, and Bengt Petersson; our host Lindholmen Science Park; and our supportive national and international friends, such as Charles F. Kettering Foundation, Global Green Growth Institute, WELEAD Africa, The Fourth Way Foundation, The German Africa Foundation, Aspen Institute France, Athens Democracy Forum, Bertelsmann Foundation, Institute of European Studies at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Department of Social Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Bonnier Family Foundation, City of Gothenburg; Democracy and Culture Foundation, FVZS Institute at Stellenbosch University, Global Democracy Coalition, Global Liberal Arts Alliance; GoDown Arts Centre, Gothia Cup, IDEoPOP-The International Dimensions and Effects of Populism, Innovation in Politics Institute, International IDEA, Lead Impact Hub, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Mentor, Mitt Liv AB, Mitt Livs Val, Röhsska Museum of Design and Craft, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies, TAM-Transatlantic Master’s Program, The Embassies of Sweden in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Seoul, South Africa, and Uganda, The School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, and The Royal Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenburg.