Nuorisotoimintaan

Nuorisotoimintaan, meaning youth work, is a field of public and community activities aimed at supporting young people in their upbringing, learning and participation. In Finland, nuorisotoiminta covers non-formal education, leisure activities and civic engagement, and is carried out by municipalities, youth centers (nuorisotilat), youth associations, schools and NGOs.

Purpose and scope: to promote well-being, safety, equal opportunities, and participation in society; to provide safe spaces for young people to meet, learn, and develop skills; to support education, employment readiness, and social inclusion; and to prevent marginalization and risky behavior.

Settings and actors: municipal youth services and centres, schools, clubs, peer groups, volunteer networks, youth workers, social workers and educators.

Approaches and activities: open youth work (availability without formal enrollment), club activities, sports, arts, digital media, volunteering, mentoring, outreach to marginalized groups; participation activities such as youth councils and project development; cooperation with families and other services.

Policy framework and funding: in Finland, municipalities are primarily responsible for organizing nuorisotoiminta, supported by national and EU funding; aims are aligned with national youth policy and equality goals; there is emphasis on youth participation in planning and decision-making.

Outcomes and evaluation: focuses on competencies, resilience, social inclusion, and well-being; evaluation uses user feedback, participation metrics and service data to inform development.