TWO YEARS STRONG AND COUNTING!
Over the past two years, the NextGen Neighbor Network (NNN) has been building a movement around the importance of social capital in youth, while bringing awareness to the alarming statistics of youth drop out in sports. The need is urgent. Six out of ten children quit organized sports before turning 18. In some areas of Oslo, Norway, girls' participation in sports has fallen as low as 8 percent.
As a solution, NextGen Neighbor Network developed the I care. campaign to create visual branding around social responsibility that businesses, organizations, and sports clubs can adopt to enhance their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Our work also involved creating engaging and thought-provoking content on how sports can be a vehicle for growth and development, along with how it can help address some of society’s most pressing challenges, including youth dropout, social isolation, physical inactivity, and the need for stronger community belonging among youth.
Simultaneously, NextGen Neighbor Network partnered with Norges Toppidrettsgymnas (NTG) to launch the NTG I care. Scholarship which is designed for young people who demonstrate high social capital, contribute to their local community, along with having a capacity to care for others regardless of their background, parental involvement, or personal challenge Initially, the scholarship program will run for three years with full financial support from Louise Mohn and her companies, and has also contributed funding toward the launch of the NTG Tromsø Girls’ Academy.
Just recently, the NextGen Neighbor Team traveled to Tromsø, Norway for a collaborative gathering with key leaders from Norges Toppidrettsgymnas (NTG), Tromsø IL (TIL), researchers, educators, and regional development stakeholders to celebrate the kick-off of the NTG Tromsø Girls’ Academy, which many believe could be a historic investment in the future of girls’ sport in Norway.
Additionally, the NextGen Neighbor Network has launched events called, “Miljøplakatens,” across Norway including Sandlihallen, Gnesit Arena, Orland, Bodo, and more to come in 2026. “Miljøplakatens” are social capital driven ecosystems that unites schools, culture, sports clubs, and volunteers, activating Ambassadors spanning from 10 to 90 years of age—bridging generations, fostering trust, and reinforcing the values that define strong neighborhoods. Through SUPER ROLE MODELS and sport, they open up a healthy dialogue between responsible adults to validate children for their social capital and strive to secure belonging for everyone.
The NextGen Neighbor Network visual branding has partnered and/or collaborated with the LIM Project, Mortensrud Fellesskap, Tiger Talks, Trond Mohn Games, Bergen Basketfestival Hansa Cup, International School of Bergen (ISB), Oslo 3x3, Bodo/Glimt, the Women’s National Basketball Team, Basketakademiet and basketball clubs clubs across Bergen, Norway.
What began as a grassroots effort has now found its way into boardrooms, government offices, and international forums. Conversations surrounding the importance of social capital, youth development, and collective social responsibility have taken place with representatives from the Norwegian Football Federation, Bergen Mayor Marit Warncke, former Prime Minister Erna Solberg, and other leaders from across the sports and financial sectors. The message has even reached the World Summit on Ethics & Leadership in Sports, while making a full circle back in Bergen when our NNN Founder Louise Mohn was honored.
There is no stopping the NextGen Neighbor Network team because the challenges facing the next generation are ongoing. What started as an idea has become a growing movement across Norway. What started with a handful of committed people has grown into a network of schools, sports clubs, businesses, volunteers, parents, role models, athletes, and community leaders all choosing to say the words:
