The new community counselors of the city of Äänekoski are for young people
The city of Äänekoski hired two community counselors for the Äänekoski and Suolahti unified schools with bequest funds directed to young people.
- The employment relationships are now temporary for the next two years, but the goal is to get an extension for the trainees later, director of education and training Ville Härtsia says.
- Based on school health surveys, a large number of children and young people experience a feeling of being outside at school. Everyday life at school is busy and often adults don't have enough time to stop and talk, to face the students genuinely. It is important that students are offered opportunities to influence the things that they feel are important at school, Härtsia states.
There are hardly any community counselors in elementary schools in other cities, although similar work under different titles has been done in schools for a long time, for example as school youth work.
Young people have the hunger of an adult
At the beginning of March, they started as community counselors in Äänekoski Marjut Haapasaari ja Tuomo Laulainen. Both are trained social workers and have solid work experience working with young people.
For the majority of their working time, community counselors are in unified schools and, if necessary, hold themed lessons, class grouping tasks, shared recess or help with, for example, bullying or atmosphere problems.
- Our most important job is to meet young people. Young people are at the center of this work, we are there for them, Laulainen summarizes.
- We try to increase the comfortability of schools with various means, Haapasaari describes. - The goal is also in accordance with the city strategy to offer young people low-threshold influence opportunities and to add inclusive activities to everyday life. We draw on the wishes of young people and the young people themselves get to influence what is organized for them.
- Young people have a lot of adult hunger. Adults don't always have time to stop by every young person. As community counselors, we get involved in that and we have time for young people. Our work starts from the needs of young people, says Laulainen.
- Young people have had problems even before the corona, but yes, the corona period has generally increased the loneliness, marginalization and mental health problems of young people, when groups have been kept apart, and it has not been possible to do inclusive things, says Haapasaari.
Meeting young people in their free time is also important, and community counselors work closely with youth work.
- The fact that you also see young people outside of school deepens the connection, says Haapasaari.
Laulainen himself is from Suolahti and knows the places and people from before. - There has always been a close connection here. And Suolahti's new comprehensive school does offer a fun environment.
- Äänekoski has such a positive atmosphere and an innovative mood anyway. Here, we want to involve the residents in doing things together, Haapasaari states.
For more information:
Director of Education Ville Härtsiä, 040 509 3657, ville.hartsia@aanekoski.fi
News published 4.4.2022, modified 23.7.2024/12/20 at XNUMX:XNUMX