At the listening evening in Äänekoski, the voice of young people was truly brought out
"A very good opportunity, there should be these all over Finland"
One hundred pizzas were ordered for Äänekoski's youth facilities and young people were listened to about what should be different and what is upsetting. Äänekoski's city strategy, The Äänekoski phenomenon in the spirit, we also want to involve young people and ask them directly for their views. The young people seized the opportunity bravely and a total of about one hundred young people were present.
What the fuck? -hearing night on 22.3.2023 March XNUMX showed how smart young people we have in Äänekoski. The conversation was open, and the small and bigger wishes were very concrete. During the evening, the fact that the young people themselves can and want to be involved in implementing ideas and committing to projects also came to the fore.
The young people pointed out, for example, that there should be more places to hang out and spend leisure time in Äänekoski, that there is a need for coffee shops in schools and the city center, and better bus connections to Jyväskylä. We hope for more spices in the school food and something other than crackers for snacks. Early school mornings, teachers and recess practices were also criticized by young people.
Representatives of various fields, decision-makers and influencers were brought to the youth facilities to listen to young people. The Youth Center Spotti was included, for example. mayor Matti Tuononen, Minister of Science and Culture Petri Honkonen and the businessman who developed the Angry Birds game Peter Vesterback. The guests praised how Äänekoski wants to hear directly from young people, what things should be developed.
- The wishes of the young people of Äänekoski were such that it is quite easy to put them in order when the right people are there. A very good opportunity, there should be these all over Finland, Peter Vesterbacka tweeted after the evening.
The young people's ideas were written down so that they can be promoted in the future. During the evening, ideas could also be sent to the Padlet platform, and those comments were also recorded.
- We now start working on ideas among the working group and strict follow-up, so that good ideas don't get lost in busy everyday life. At least we have a base to start from. The first measures here in the school work have already been implemented, the special class teacher organized the event Hanna Koistinen says.
The young people also received praise during the evening and hoped for a similar evening again. The city of Äänekoski will organize a hearing evening for young people again within the year.
Efforts are being made to move these issues forward
The adults who took part in the spot promised to take forward the young people's ideas as much as they could:
- Äänekoski parish's youth work supervisor Jari Sikanen: I promise to remind you that young people can book appointments and come and talk to an adult. Sikanen is pushing forward to get more and better substance abuse education in schools.
- Minister of Science and Culture Petri Honkonen: On the vocational school side, you don't get enough teaching and guidance, and this same feedback comes up everywhere in Finland. This can be addressed by enacting a law.
- Store manager of Äänekoski S-Market Katja Hyötyläinen: Promises to promote, using the means within his own sphere of influence, that the young people of Äänekoski get more places to gather and hang out when it happens to be convenient for the young people.
- Chairman of the Äänekoski Board of Education Timo Pulli: Wants to promote places for young people to hang out and a youth cafe space.
- A shopkeeper at Äänekoski Citymarket Mika Lankinen: Young people's cafe ideas of a night cafe until midnight and with zero tolerance to the core center and a permanent cafe for the school maintained by the students are those that I have knowledge about.
- Mayor of Äänekoski Matti Tuononen: We hope for better bus timetables and this is where we will start our negotiations with Jyväskylä this year. International students are welcome to the second level and we will continue the conversation with Peter Vesterbacka next week.
- Food Service Manager Raija Sällinen: We received good ideas from the young people and in the fall we will establish a school food council as a voice for young people. The council includes students from all schools, staff from food services, teachers and a representative of school health. The council takes young people's wishes forward.
- Food services Marika Dry cloth: Promises to advance the QR code system and information, for example through the schools' central radio, we could tell young people about current news about food services.
- Businessman, influencer Peter Vesterback: Promises to contribute to the internationalization issue.
- Poke Communications Coordinator Tuija Tiitinen: Promises that Poke will give Kesäkaara condoms and some hobby equipment again. Take forward the fact that there should be some kind of ritual event in the vocational school as well as in the high school.
- Researcher at the University of Tampere Niina Meriläinen: Researches and will continue to research the use of authority by adults in schools.
- Teacher at the University of Jyväskylä Mikko Hiljanen: Wants to ensure that future subject teachers, in addition to teaching, are empathetic and know how to be humane with young people.
- Education and teaching service coordinator The fairy tale Tarvinen: The hobby wishes of young people can be realized through the model of Harrastaminen Suomen. Move forward to get better connections for the gaming club. Carry forward the young people's wish that teachers take notes on the board during lessons. Many transportation students have to come to school every morning at 8, we will see with the transportation planner if something can be done about this.
- The police officers who participated in the spot promise to visit Äänekoski schools more often.
- Acting assistant principal of Koulunmäki school Seija Hinkkanen: At least we can get sofas there for Tekelle young people to hang out (upper school escape facilities in the fall).
For more information:
Special class teacher Hanna Koistinen, 040 190 57 94, hanna.koistinen@aanekoski.fi
Äänekoski implements its city strategy in accordance with the principles of open governance in a bold and open manner and together with the residents. You can familiarize yourself with the Äänekoski phenomenon here: https://ilmio.aanekoski.fi/
News published 28.3.2023, modified 29.6.2023/12/58 at XNUMX:XNUMX
