The National Council of Swedish Youth Organisations, the LSU, was founded in 1948 to increase contacts between young people in the Eastern and the Western Europe. Today the LSU operates as a platform on different matters, on international as well as national topics. Through this cooperation, all our member organisations can share experiences, run projects and influence society. The LSU is a coordinating body for 82 Swedish youth organisations. The members come from all kinds of organisations, from the party political youth organisations, student movements, religious organisations, environmentalists to chess players.

The National Council of Swedish Youth Organisations is a coordinating body, and the aims are:　

Constitute a forum for matters of common interest in youth organisations　- Provide a network for national as well as international organisations dealing with youth cooperation - Work on the basis of the UN declaration on Human Rights, as well as the UN declaration on Children’s Rights” (extract from the LSU constitution, §1)

To reach these aims, the LSU work in 2 areas, at a national as well as international level.　

Organisational development/leadership - Lobby on youth issues/youth policy work

Main activities

The work of the LSU at national level is concerned with issues of common interest of our member organisations. Ideas and experiences are exchanged, seminars on topical issues presented, and the importance of youth work in society is promoted. The LSU also coordinates larger campaigns on xenophobia and anti-racism, hosts seminars, and provides training opportunities for representatives of member organisations. We are also monitoring the field of youth policy in order to assist our members with vital information and lobby towards the government, parliament and other official bodies on different issues.

The LSU’s global network involves activities from Nordic and European matters to third world and UN issues. The LSU tries to coordinate information, knowledge and experiences with the use of seminars and intercultural exchange. We help smaller organisations that don’t have international networks of their own to obtain knowledge about youth issues in other countries. We provide young people with the opportunity of studying the possibilities and problems of developing countries. Upon their return, the participants arrange follow-up activities in their own organisations as well as in the LSU, in order to further spread the knowledge gained.

Global Networks

Since the mid-90s, LSU has had formalized cooperations with youth networks and youth councils all over the world. In 2004 extensive new contacts were established and deepened between LSU and number of progressive youth councils/ networks in Eastern Europe, Balkans, Lebanon, Uganda, Ghana, southern Africa, Cambodia and the Philippines. Through visits in respectively countries common denominators were identified and co-operations have been set up. The extent and character of the co-operations differ, but the common ground is the strive for a strong civil society where young people are active participants. LSU has identified a common frame for these co-operations: GALE - Global Action Local Empowerment. The vision of GALE is a strong civil society where young people are active participants. This society is built on democratic values and we believe that increased youth participation in civil society and in decision-making structures is closely linked to the development of democracy and consequently to the struggle against poverty.

The Swedish All Different, All Equal campaign Alla olika alla lika is coordinated by the LSU. Learn more about the Swedish All Different, All Equal campaign Alla olika alla lika at www.allaolikaallalika.se

Address: Gammelgеrdsvдgen 38; Sweden; Stockholm 112 64

Office phone: +46 8 672 66 70

Fax number: +46 8 672 66 90