The guardian councilors are now supporting the Äänekoski youth council
"We all work together to develop Äänekoski"

In Äänekoski, young people are interested in influencing! There was a new application for the youth council in the spring and no less than 21 applications were received.
Everyone who wants to can participate in the activity, and the new youth council was approved at the meeting on May 29.5.2023, XNUMX. The new term of the youth council starts in June and the meetings continue after the summer break in August.
The Äänekoski city government decided in October 2022 that a sponsor system will be established in Äänekoski to support the youth council. In February 2023, the city government approved the operating model for the godparent system and the council groups chose their representatives as godparents. The youth council's wish was that at least one councilor from each party would join.
- We emphasize the impartiality of the godfather's activity, because the youth council is politically non-committal. We hope from the godparents that they can help if necessary, notice problems and come up with new ideas together with the young people. We all work together to develop Äänekoski, chairman of the youth council Jere Tuhkanen line.
Support and help from the godfather system
In Äänekoski, the youth council has one person from each council group, i.e. currently eight. The youth council hopes for enthusiasm and interest in the development of the youth council from the sponsors.
- This spring, almost all godparents have participated in the meetings. And the change has already been brought about together, because many double degree students from Soundkoske previously had difficulty overlapping their classes, so the godparents pushed the matter forward and now they are trying to improve the matter. The Board of Education discussed the matter at its May meeting, thanks Tuhkanen.
- The successful implementation of the godfather system can at best create a solid and continuous connection between the city and young people, thanks to which the participation of the youth council and the possibilities of influence on matters handled by the city's institutions are established at a high level, administrative director Aleksi Heikkilä sees
Good learning from Nuva going forward
Äänekoski's youth council promotes the development of the city from the perspective of young people and increases dialogue and cooperation between the city and young people. The Youth Council acts as experts in matters concerning young people. It prepares and implements initiatives and presentations.
The Äänekoski youth council consists of at least ten and at most 20 youth councilors. A person living or studying in Äänekoski who turns at least 13 years old during the term of office of the youth council, but has not turned 20 at the time of election, can be elected as a member of the youth council.
In the selections, it is taken into account that there would be representatives from each educational institution, so that the composition of the youth council would represent as widely as possible young people from Tunakoski. The youth council now includes young people from the center of Äänekoski and Suolahti.
This spring's high school student Jere Tuhkanen started his first term as chairman of the youth council. Tuhkanen dreams of running for parliamentary elections sometime in the future and is interested in advocacy work. He believes that the youth council provides a good foundation for that. Young people can also influence things, e.g. through student union work.
The youth council meets about once a month. Youth councilors participate in meetings of the council, city government, boards and working groups as well as other city events, and a meeting fee is paid for the meetings.
Tuhkanen has participated in all city council meetings.
- Following in the council has mostly been passive, it's easier to express things in the boards, says Tuhkanen.
- Äänekoski should invest more in the services of a youth psychologist as well as more diverse hobby opportunities and events for young people. There could be inclusive events for young people in the future.
For more information:
Chairman of the Youth Council, Jere Tuhkanen, 045 196 1610, jere.tuhkanen@aanekoski.fi
Administrative Director Aleksi Heikkilä, 040 823 7921, aleksi.heikkila@aanekoski.fi
Äänekoski youth council the operating model of the gummy system can be found here.
News published 2.6.2023, modified 27.2.2024/09/24 at XNUMX:XNUMX