Youth Work in Finland
Höylä, Sari (2012)
Humanistinen ammattikorkeakoulu
2012
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-456-127-3
Lähdeviite:
http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-456-127-3
Lähdeviite:
Höylä S., (2012). Youth Work in Finland. , In: HUMAK University of Applied Sciences, Series E, HUMAK publications 4, 2012, Humanistinen ammattikorkeakoulu. URN:ISBN:978-952-456-127-3
Tiivistelmä
The article examines Finnish youth work and its objectives and development
through legislation. In current legislation, youth work is assigned
the task of promoting young people’s active citizenship and participation.
Other key objectives of youth work include young people’s social empowerment
and independence, as well as improving young people’s growth
and living conditions. Nevertheless, a young person is not an object in
youth work, but an active agent, who is supported by the youth worker
through a dialogic relationship. Youth work is part of youth education,
which supports the educational duties of home, school and the surrounding
society. Its objective is not only to provide knowledge and technical
skills, but to allow young people to learn how to operate as full members
of communities and society. Youth work is based on the willingness of
young people to participate in their leisure time in activities together with
other young people. Youth work employs a broad range of methods that
vary according to the interests of the young people involved. Finland is
characterised by a large number of youth work professionals. Youth work
education is provided at upper secondary and university levels in Finland.
The government and local authorities are responsible for creating framework
conditions for youth work, as well as for supervising the funding and
implementation of youth work. In matters affecting young people, different
authorities are expected to work in cross-sectoral cooperation at both
national and local level. The state provides subsidies for youth work, although
the amount spent by local authorities on youth work is several
times higher than the subsidies.
through legislation. In current legislation, youth work is assigned
the task of promoting young people’s active citizenship and participation.
Other key objectives of youth work include young people’s social empowerment
and independence, as well as improving young people’s growth
and living conditions. Nevertheless, a young person is not an object in
youth work, but an active agent, who is supported by the youth worker
through a dialogic relationship. Youth work is part of youth education,
which supports the educational duties of home, school and the surrounding
society. Its objective is not only to provide knowledge and technical
skills, but to allow young people to learn how to operate as full members
of communities and society. Youth work is based on the willingness of
young people to participate in their leisure time in activities together with
other young people. Youth work employs a broad range of methods that
vary according to the interests of the young people involved. Finland is
characterised by a large number of youth work professionals. Youth work
education is provided at upper secondary and university levels in Finland.
The government and local authorities are responsible for creating framework
conditions for youth work, as well as for supervising the funding and
implementation of youth work. In matters affecting young people, different
authorities are expected to work in cross-sectoral cooperation at both
national and local level. The state provides subsidies for youth work, although
the amount spent by local authorities on youth work is several
times higher than the subsidies.