WEXFO 2026
ChildPress is once again taking part in the WEXFO conference in Lillehammer. On this page, we bring together our magazines from previous years, showing how young reporters have covered themes such as freedom of expression, democracy, children’s rights and trustworthy information.
This year, ChildPress continues that story with a new group of young reporters and participants. As part of our preparation for WEXFO, we first interviewed Kjersti Fløgstad, Director of the Nobel Peace Center.
WEXFO 2026 Interviews
ChildPress Round Table at WEXFO 2026
During our ChildPress round table at WEXFO, young reporters spoke with Hans Olav Sundfør, Mayor of Lillehammer, Tomasz Wnęk, youth representative from Poland, and other international guests about democracy, media and meaningful youth participation. Together they explored how children can learn about their rights, speak up safely, take part in local decision-making and use journalism to make their voices heard in schools and communities.
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Curiosity and Understandingby Louis Theroux
United Kingdom · Documentary filmmaker & journalist
“Curiosity is one of the most powerful tools a journalist has. Before judging people, we should try to understand them.”
- Who
- Louis Theroux, British documentary filmmaker, journalist and television presenter known for exploring difficult and controversial topics through conversation and observation.
- What
- He reflects on the role of journalism in a world where people are increasingly divided. Rather than judging people from a distance, he argues that journalists should be curious, ask questions and try to understand why people think and act the way they do.
- Where
- WEXFO 2026, Lillehammer, Norway.
- When
- June 2026.
- How
- Through decades of documentary work, Louis has met people with very different beliefs and backgrounds. His approach is to listen first, ask honest questions and create conversations that help audiences understand complex issues rather than simply choosing sides.
Culture and Democracyby Lubna Jaffery
Norway · Minister of Culture & Equality
“Democracy needs more than the freedom to speak. It needs places where people can meet, listen and feel that they belong.”
- Who
- Lubna Jaffery, Norway’s Minister of Culture and Equality.
- What
- She explains why culture, freedom of expression and democracy are closely connected. She argues that culture is not a luxury, but an essential part of creating communities where people feel they belong and where different voices can be heard.
- Where
- WEXFO 2026, Lillehammer, Norway.
- When
- June 2026.
- How
- Drawing on her role as Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna highlights the importance of libraries, schools, cultural institutions and public meeting places. These spaces help people meet across differences, share stories and participate in democratic life.
Dialogue Across Differencesby Andreas Gjone
Lillehammer, Norway · Communications & Marketing Manager, WEXFO
“Freedom of expression is not only about having a voice. It is about creating places where people are willing to listen to one another.”
- Who
- Andreas Gjone, Communications and Marketing Manager of WEXFO and one of the driving forces behind the conference.
- What
- He explains why freedom of expression is not only about protecting the right to speak, but also about creating spaces where people with different opinions can meet, listen and learn from each other.
- Where
- WEXFO 2026, Lillehammer, Norway.
- When
- June 2026.
- How
- Through WEXFO, Andreas brings together journalists, politicians, activists, educators, young people and community leaders from around the world. His goal is to create dialogue across differences and strengthen democratic societies through understanding and respectful conversation.
Education, Equality and Opportunityby Pema Wangmo Lama
Nepal · Education & youth advocate
“Education gives young people more than knowledge. It gives them the confidence to speak, participate and shape their own future.”
- Who
- Pema Wangmo Lama, a young leader and advocate for education and youth participation from Nepal.
- What
- She speaks about the importance of education as a pathway to opportunity, especially for girls and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. She explains how education can help young people gain confidence, find their voice and contribute to their communities.
- Where
- WEXFO 2026, Lillehammer, Norway.
- When
- June 2026.
- How
- Drawing on her own experiences, Pema highlights the barriers many young people still face in accessing quality education and meaningful participation. She encourages young people to use their voices, support one another and work together to create positive change.
Freedom Through a Refugee’s Eyesby Manal Makkieh
Palestine / Lebanon · Refugee & advocate
“Freedom of expression is not only the right to speak. It is also the right to be heard when your life and future are being discussed.”
- Who
- Manal Makkieh, a Palestinian refugee born in a refugee camp in Lebanon.
- What
- She shares her personal story of growing up as a refugee and explains how displacement, discrimination and the loss of a homeland continue to affect Palestinians across generations. She also reflects on whether international forums truly listen to the voices of those most directly affected by conflict.
- Where
- WEXFO 2026, Lillehammer, Norway.
- When
- June 2026.
- How
- Drawing on her own experiences, Manal argues that freedom of expression is not only about having the opportunity to speak, but also about being genuinely heard. She challenges audiences to consider how democracy, human rights and participation look from the perspective of someone who feels excluded from decision-making and public conversations.
Hope & Happinessby Camilo Garzón
Colombia · Youth participant
“Children are the hope of both the future and the present. If we want to find hope again, we need to look at children.”
- Who
- Camilo Garzón from Colombia.
- What
- He explains why learning about children’s rights is important and what adults can learn from children. He believes that children are not only the future, but also an important part of the present.
- Where
- WEXFO 2026, Lillehammer, Norway.
- When
- June 2026.
- How
- Camilo encourages adults to listen more carefully to children, spend time with them and learn from their ability to enjoy simple things. He also hopes that WEXFO can help people relearn how to disagree respectfully and have meaningful conversations across differences.
Children’s Rights and Understandingby Obel
Kenya / Sweden · Youth participant
“When we understand children’s rights, we understand children better — and that helps us protect, support and listen to them.”
- Who
- Obel, a youth participant originally from Kenya and currently living in Sweden.
- What
- He explains why it is important for people to learn about children’s rights. Understanding children’s rights helps adults better understand children’s needs, voices and experiences.
- Where
- WEXFO 2026, Lillehammer, Norway.
- When
- June 2026.
- How
- By listening to different perspectives and encouraging open dialogue, Obel believes people can create more understanding and make space for those whose voices are often unheard. He highlights the importance of freedom of expression and learning from one another across cultures and countries.
Communityby Christine Kramprud
Lillehammer, Norway · Bookseller
“Children often see things that adults miss. That’s why their voices deserve to be heard.”
- Who
- Christine Kramprud, bookseller at a local bookstore participating in WEXFO 2026.
- What
- She speaks about children’s rights, freedom of expression and the importance of listening to young people. She believes that every person, regardless of age, deserves to have a voice.
- Where
- WEXFO 2026, Lillehammer, Norway.
- When
- June 2026.
- How
- Drawing on her experiences meeting visitors during the conference, Christine highlights the value of community engagement, reading and dialogue. She encourages adults to listen more carefully to children, who often notice things that others overlook.
Journalismby Jonas Ulset
Innlandet, Norway · Journalist & photographer, NRK
“Journalism belongs in schools, because children should learn how to ask questions, check facts and understand what is really news.”
- Who
- Jonas Oden Ulset, journalist at NRK Innlandet and photographer.
- What
- He explains why journalism should also be part of school. Children can learn how journalism works, why facts matter, and how reporters ask questions to understand what is really happening.
- Where
- WEXFO 2026, Lillehammer, Norway.
- When
- June 2026.
- How
- Jonas says journalism helps people look deeper into society, including politicians and big companies. He also points out that children should learn not to publish photos, quotes or information about people without permission.
Truth and Journalismby Maria Ressa
Manila, Philippines · Journalist, Nobel Peace laureate
“Journalism is connected to accountability, which is connected to justice.”
- Who
- Maria Ressa, journalist, founder of Rappler and recipient of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.
- What
- Maria Ressa explains why journalism is essential for democracy. Journalists have a unique responsibility: to hold power accountable, ask difficult questions and protect the public’s access to trustworthy information. She warns that if journalism is replaced only by influencers chasing attention and likes, society loses an important safeguard for truth and justice.
- Where
- WEXFO 2026, Lillehammer, Norway.
- When
- June 2026.
- How
- Drawing on her own experiences of arrests, court cases and political pressure in the Philippines, she encourages young people to defend facts and support independent journalism, and calls on the next generation to help protect reliable information in an age dominated by social media.
Peaceby Kjersti Fløgstad
Oslo, Norway · Director, Nobel Peace Center
“Peace begins by listening — not just waiting to speak, but really trying to understand the other person.”
- Who
- Kjersti Fløgstad, Director of the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo.
- What
- She explains that peace is not only something for presidents, governments or Nobel Peace Prize winners. Peace also starts with children: by asking questions, listening carefully, showing respect and learning how to live with different opinions. She tells that children cannot officially nominate someone for the Nobel Peace Prize, but they can still influence adults who can.
- Where
- Nobel Peace Center, Oslo / international peace education.
- When
- Interview with ChildPress, May 30th 2026 at the Nobel Peace Center.
- How
- Her message to young reporters is hopeful and practical: look around you, find people who work for peace, and tell their stories. Peace begins close to home — in school, in your neighbourhood and in the way people listen to each other.
Every Child Countsby Jonas Gahr Støre
Oslo, Norway · Prime Minister of Norway
Video coming soon
“Children are safest when they are trusted, included, protected and given the chance to become who they can be.”
- Who
- Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway.
- What
- Across several ChildPress conversations, he builds a broader story about what children need to grow up safely and take part in society.
- Where
- Norway / ChildPress.
- When
- Wexfo 2026.
- How
- He begins with trust: every child should have adults nearby who listen before problems grow too big. He links this to fairness — access to kindergarten, school, sports, culture and libraries, whatever the family income — and to protection: preventing youth crime and stopping gangs from recruiting children. The deeper message is belonging, and in the end his story returns to school and talent: every child should be challenged, supported and given room to develop.
