Tampere spotlights youth workers' everyday impact

Tampere is marking National Youth Work Week to highlight the city’s youth services and the everyday ways they support young people. More than 130 staff provide a supportive adult presence and welcoming spaces across the city, including 11 youth centres, the youth cultural centre Monitoimitalo 13, the mobile outreach van Liikkis and digital meeting places, the city says.

Youth workers also go to schools, streets, public spaces and events to meet young people where they are. Youth Services Director Tiina-Liisa Vehkalahti says the work often shows up as small but important moments, such as being heard, discovering a new hobby or getting encouragement during tough times. These moments matter. The service also helps young people on employment paths by arranging summer jobs, workshop periods and volunteer opportunities, and it backs youth-led projects with grants and guidance. Vehkalahti says that while youth work plays a key role in wellbeing, everyday responsibility for young people rests with many adults and community settings.

The week builds on earlier city initiatives, including the launch this spring of a Youth Wellbeing Promotion Ecosystem for 18–28-year-olds the youth wellbeing ecosystem and an August Listen to Youth campaign, prompted by a survey that found many pupils hesitate to confide in adults the Listen to Youth campaign.