Who we are
GIVE – Global Indigenous Voices for Empowerment – is a youth-focused organisation bridging Norway and the Sahel. Our work is grounded in Indigenous rights, community resilience and living heritage. We believe that young people carry knowledge, identity and cultural strength that must be supported across borders.
We work closely with partners in Benin, Niger and Mexico, as well as local actors and institutions in Norway. Together, we build safer environments for youth, strengthen cultural expression and develop pathways for education and socio-economic inclusion.
Our mission
GIVE’s mission is to ensure that Indigenous and displaced youth can:
- feel safe, recognised and valued in their communities
- preserve and activate their cultural and linguistic heritage
- develop resilience through community-based activities and peer support
- access opportunities in education, mobility and cultural livelihoods
Our approach
Our work is grounded in the principles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and in community-led resilience models. We prioritise:
- Community first – youth-led and locally guided initiatives
- Intercultural understanding – linking Norway with the Sahel and Latin America
- Living heritage – crafts, memory and cultural transmission as assets for the future
- Bridging institutions – museums, universities, community centres and NGOs
GIVE acts as a connector: between cultures, generations, regions and opportunities.
Where we work
GIVE links Rognan in Northern Norway with communities and partners in:
- Benin – youth expression, cultural heritage, community resilience
- Niger – displaced youth, safe spaces, creative programmes
- Mexico – Indigenous knowledge, crafts, intercultural education
This transnational structure allows us to respond to youth needs shaped by migration, climate, cultural uprooting and limited access to opportunities.
Our four programme areas
All GIVE activities are organised through four interconnected pillars:
- Youth resilience & safe spaces
- Living heritage & crafts
- Research, training & documentation
- Scholarships & mobility pathways
To explore each programme in detail, visit the Programmes page.
Contact GIVE
GIVE – Global Indigenous Voices for Empowerment
Jernbanegata 11 · 8250 Rognan · Nordland · Norway
Email: contact@givempowerment.no
Leadership: leadership@givempowerment.no