After-School With Femti-71

Children & youth

Jun 11

Written By Annikken Grieg Sæthre

Who: Femti-71

What: “Etter skolen”, After-school activities

Where: Bergen, Norway

Project period: 2026-2029

About the project

“Etter Skolen” is a tailored after-school program for children and young people. Femti-71 has specialized expertise in music, arts, and culture, and develops activities adapted to the facilities and target group at each individual school. We apply for project funding to reduce costs for schools, ensuring that the program remains free and accessible to as many participants as possible.

The school is open every Friday and Saturday afternoon, and activities are organized by Femti-71 in collaboration with the school, the Bergen Sports Council (Idrettsrådet i Bergen), and local volunteers. We use available facilities such as the gymnasium, music room, kitchen, and workshops, and fill them with structured activities for children and young people aged 4 to 19. Examples of activity zones include a gaming room (board games, Nintendo, FIFA), an arts and sewing room (creative art and redesign), a sports and dance area (dance, basketball, and physical activity), and a food workshop on Fridays led by parents.

There are always safe adults present, participation is voluntary, and all activities are free of charge. Experience shows that participants quickly become engaged once they attend. The initiative has been very well received by students, parents, the Parent-Teacher Association (FAU), youth outreach services, and school leadership. The principal reports that vandalism and drug use in the school area have disappeared and that the overall school environment has become significantly safer.

Our framework is built on stability and predictability, safe and experienced instructors, high professional quality, free participation, and openness to siblings and friends. Our objectives are to prevent social exclusion, substance abuse, and negative behavior; to create positive communities and relationships across different backgrounds and ages; to provide free and easily accessible cultural and sports activities; and to contribute to well-being, belonging, and a safer local environment.

About the organization

The purpose of the activities at Femti-71 is to strengthen young people’s self-esteem, creativity, and sense of community. We aim to provide meaningful opportunities where young people feel seen and are given the chance to discover new interests and talents. Our goal is to create accessible, low-threshold meeting places where youth can come together, express themselves creatively, and build positive relationships in a safe and supportive environment.

Experiencing achievement and belonging is important for everyone, but especially for vulnerable young people during a critical stage of life. Through our activities, we aim to prevent social exclusion, substance abuse, and negative behavior by creating positive communities and relationships across different backgrounds and age groups. We also strive to provide free and accessible cultural and sports activities in the local community, while contributing to well-being, a sense of belonging, and a safer environment for children and young people to grow up in.