dialogue youth
DESCRIPTION
Tommi Laitio´s presentation at IOM ACCESS project launchTRANSCRIPT
Youth in Helsinkiand the dialogue between
the government and young people
Tommi LaitioDirector of Youth Affairs
600 000 residents600 000 residents
10-17yo: 41 00010-17yo: 41 00013-17yo: 27 00013-17yo: 27 000
5 000 / age group5 000 / age group
First global generation
Cross-border familiesLarger notion of familyReal experiences of racismAbility to negotiate and see things from multiple perspectives
Experience of competitionActions for, not againstStrong ethos of helpStrong demand for justiceTrust in institutions
IntegrationToo much of this = obedient servants
EmancipationToo much of this =Consumer-like Citizenship
The ”Impossible” Formula of Youth Work
”The capabilities approach starts from a very simple question: what are people really able to do and be? What real possibilities do they have?”- Martha Nussbaum: Creating Capabilities. The Human Development Approach.
Usually only a few people use Usually only a few people use the voice of all..the voice of all..
In Helsinki´s Ruuti Programme, In Helsinki´s Ruuti Programme, everyone uses their own voice.everyone uses their own voice.
Ruuti Participation ProgrammeRuuti Participation Programme1. Every young person has a positive 1. Every young person has a positive experience of participation.experience of participation.2. Young people´s initiatives are taken 2. Young people´s initiatives are taken seriously.seriously.3. Young people are heard in issues 3. Young people are heard in issues affecting them.affecting them.4. Young people´s actions and initiatives 4. Young people´s actions and initiatives improve Helsinki.improve Helsinki.
Core Questions of Political MobilisationHow are you doing?
What could be better?Why things are the way they are?
Who decides on this?What can we do?
Separate concern and analysis.We need to be able to improve the analysis (suggestion) without destroying the concern (expressed sense that something could be better).
Traditional consultation easily blurs the differencebetween a consumer and a citizen:
We should not only ask What Do You Want but also How Does This Influence Others
Ruuti Participation System in Helsinki
•Young people make the agenda
•We allow young people to have different opinions, no
need for unity amongst young people
•Different people need different ways of participation
•Participation based on multiple motivations
(interest in politics, forced by school, negative experiences
etc.)•Own experience is enough
•Situation is pleasant for adults and young people
•Young people meet both politicians and civil servants
Ruuti Budget:Ruuti Budget:In two districts, young peopleIn two districts, young peopledecided on our work in 2013.decided on our work in 2013.
Public services are meaningful only when they strengthen relations to other people.
People´s joint actionsneed to influence thestructures.
People´s relations to other people are not outcomes of public sector interventions.
Starting point in the public sector should always be trust and help.
Youth clubs as settlements90 locations ranging from local youth clubs to animal farms, repair shops and skate parks.
Tommi LaitioDirector of Youth AffairsCity of Helsinki, Youth DepartmentHietaniemenkatu 9BPL 5000, 00099 City of Helsinki
(09) 310 89045tommi.laitio (a) hel.fitommilaitio.munstadi.firuuti.nettwitter: tommilaitio