At Äänekoski, the voice of young people can be heard!
25 euros of participatory budgeting appropriations have been set aside to promote the well-being of young people

In the spirit of the Äänekoski phenomenon, young people gain an even stronger position as trendsetters in the city's operation and development. This year, the city has set aside 25 euros for promoting the well-being of young people through participatory budgeting.
The young people of Äänekoski have been active! In the spring, a total of 600 suggestions were collected from young people on how the city should be developed. The city of Äänekoski is currently figuring out how the most popular proposals can be implemented. The active participation of young people and opportunities to influence are a key part of building the future of Äänekoski.
This spring, surveys were organized for 7th graders and students in the first year of secondary education. In addition, 13-29 year olds how are we doing -night on May 15.5.2024, 600, the young people were able to openly and casually share their ideas about how the city could be developed. A total of XNUMX wishes were received, but a large part of the wishes were the same.
Last week, the wishes were discussed together between the city management, the youth council and the godfather councilors. Mayor Matti Tuononen reminded that the actual decisions are made elsewhere and e.g. as official decisions, but further measures can be agreed upon from the discussion and clarification of what the young people themselves want.
- We really want to hear from young people and we are committed to taking their ideas forward on how to develop the city. Here at Äänekoski, we want to be examples of how everything can and should be discussed. Hearing the voice of young people and fulfilling their wishes is of the utmost importance to us, Mayor Matti Tuononen says.

More events and activities, sofas and quiet spaces
The young people's wishes were divided into four main categories: 1) culture, 2) exercise, 3) leisure time and 4) school entertainment and recess.

In terms of culture, the young people most wished for more concerts, music events and other program offerings. Concretely, this could be a concert or band event chosen by the young people themselves, where local young people could perform.
The exercise wishes included a moped and more opportunities for hockey and other activities. The city is currently figuring out how these wishes could be implemented in practice. The Moposuora issue has already been resolved before.
In terms of leisure time, the young people hoped for e.g. free youth cafe and various events. The youth cafe issue has already been resolved before. The city plans to continue regularly organizing movie, bowling and other special evenings for young people.
In relation to school entertainment and breaks, the young people wished for more benches, sofas and quiet spaces, as well as different activities. These wishes are now being taken forward in cooperation with schools.

Young people involved in the development of the city
Last year 2023 was organized What's wrong? - an event where concrete ideas and wishes of young people were collected for the development of the city. A total of 88 proposals from young people were received, more than half of which were related to the school environment, and most of them were implemented. Some of the wishes didn't even require financial investments.
The young people also wished for more events and activities, and the city responded by organizing e.g. movie and bowling nights with rides. In addition, the activities of youth facilities were increased.
The implementation of the much-desired youth café and moped track organized by the city was clarified, but they would have been too expensive for the city. In addition, the organization of the moped straight involved challenges with questions of responsibility.
Despite this, the city has found alternative ways to fulfill the wishes of young people. Cafe operations have already been made possible in the current youth facilities, and the new youth facilities to be completed next year in Koulunmäki will have facilities even better suited for cafe operations.
- Unfortunately, however, it is not possible to organize a full-scale 24/7 type of youth cafe even in the new premises. However, the city is committed to continuing to listen to young people and implement their ideas as much as possible, says the person in charge of the city's youth services Petri Oinonen says.
The participation and consultation of young people continues actively. The city will organize the next consultation evening for young people next year, and the intention is to start consulting young people even earlier, already at the beginning of the year.
- Young people have brought a lot of good ideas to the table. Now we are going together to take these wishes forward into concrete actions, Oinonen says.
Äänekoski residents of all ages now have the opportunity to directly influence the development of the city through participatory budgeting. Young people have their own budget of 25 euros, which they can use to implement their own city-developing activities. The city also has a larger participatory budget of 000 euros for village development.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Family center coordinator Petri Oinonen, 0400 115 190, petri.oinonen@aanekoski.fi
News published, modified 4.6.2024 at 12:52