Youth in Helsinkiand the dialogue between

the government and young people

Tommi LaitioDirector of Youth Affairs

600 000 residents600 000 residents

10-17yo: 41 00010-17yo: 41 00013-17yo: 27 00013-17yo: 27 000

5 000 / age group5 000 / age group

First global generation

Cross-border familiesLarger notion of familyReal experiences of racismAbility to negotiate and see things from multiple perspectives

Experience of competitionActions for, not againstStrong ethos of helpStrong demand for justiceTrust in institutions

IntegrationToo much of this = obedient servants

EmancipationToo much of this =Consumer-like Citizenship

The ”Impossible” Formula of Youth Work

”The capabilities approach starts from a very simple question: what are people really able to do and be? What real possibilities do they have?”- Martha Nussbaum: Creating Capabilities. The Human Development Approach.

Usually only a few people use Usually only a few people use the voice of all..the voice of all..

In Helsinki´s Ruuti Programme, In Helsinki´s Ruuti Programme, everyone uses their own voice.everyone uses their own voice.

Ruuti Participation ProgrammeRuuti Participation Programme1. Every young person has a positive 1. Every young person has a positive experience of participation.experience of participation.2. Young people´s initiatives are taken 2. Young people´s initiatives are taken seriously.seriously.3. Young people are heard in issues 3. Young people are heard in issues affecting them.affecting them.4. Young people´s actions and initiatives 4. Young people´s actions and initiatives improve Helsinki.improve Helsinki.

Core Questions of Political MobilisationHow are you doing?

What could be better?Why things are the way they are?

Who decides on this?What can we do?

Separate concern and analysis.We need to be able to improve the analysis (suggestion) without destroying the concern (expressed sense that something could be better).

Traditional consultation easily blurs the differencebetween a consumer and a citizen:

We should not only ask What Do You Want but also How Does This Influence Others

Ruuti Participation System in Helsinki

•Young people make the agenda

•We allow young people to have different opinions, no

need for unity amongst young people

•Different people need different ways of participation

•Participation based on multiple motivations

(interest in politics, forced by school, negative experiences

etc.)•Own experience is enough

•Situation is pleasant for adults and young people

•Young people meet both politicians and civil servants

Ruuti Budget:Ruuti Budget:In two districts, young peopleIn two districts, young peopledecided on our work in 2013.decided on our work in 2013.

Public services are meaningful only when they strengthen relations to other people.

People´s joint actionsneed to influence thestructures.

People´s relations to other people are not outcomes of public sector interventions.

Starting point in the public sector should always be trust and help.

Youth clubs as settlements90 locations ranging from local youth clubs to animal farms, repair shops and skate parks.

Tommi LaitioDirector of Youth AffairsCity of Helsinki, Youth DepartmentHietaniemenkatu 9BPL 5000, 00099 City of Helsinki

(09) 310 89045tommi.laitio (a) hel.fitommilaitio.munstadi.firuuti.nettwitter: tommilaitio