Resilience through cooperation: examples from Interreg NPA projects

As conversations around resilience, civil preparedness, and democracy gain momentum across the Nordic region, these themes take on a special meaning in small and peripheral communities - and in the eyes of young people.

To explore this connection, the Interreg NPA Programme and the Nordic Youth Council hosted a session highlighting how transnational cooperation projects are helping Arctic and near-Arctic communities strengthen their resilience, preparedness, and sense of security for the years ahead.

To break the ice, the audience - young representatives of Nordic political parties - were asked to come up with five words that, in their view, describe a resilient community. The exercise quickly revealed a common thread: trust, community, and democracy stood out as the key ingredients for withstanding change.

After a lively warm-up game, the panel brought together three Interreg NPA projects, each showing how cooperation across borders and generations can help Arctic communities face change with confidence.

Speakers agreed that resilience isn’t built overnight - it grows when people use what they already have: local knowledge, culture, creativity, and strong community ties.

The DACCHE project shared how it connects cultural heritage with climate action through interactive exhibitions that mix XR technology, animation, and storytelling. At Stiklestad, its Borderland – Gaaskelante exhibition brings South Sámi landscapes to life, co-created with local communities and young people.

The CAP-SHARE project is building bridges between scientists, policymakers, and communities to tackle shared challenges like biodiversity loss. Its team wants to go further by involving children, ensuring even the youngest voices are heard in future planning.

Meanwhile, the MERSE project strengthens social entrepreneurs - many of them young - through peer learning and the exchange of ideas. Their impact is already visible in Iceland’s Westfjords, where social innovation is being considered in the region’s first joint planning strategy.

Together, these stories showed that resilience comes from connection - from people learning, creating, and solving challenges side by side.

Closing the session, the panelists encouraged the young audience to stay active, curious, and open to dialogue. The discussion returned to the same words that appeared in the warm-up game: trust & community. A resilient community, they agreed, is built on trust - something that grows when people meet, talk, and get to know each other. These connections create understanding and reliability - you know someone, you trust them, and you can count on them. The key message was simple: look around, talk to your neighbours, and stay open-minded - because resilience begins with the people around you.