Two strong youth organisations start cooperation

 

5.9.2023

The YMCA Finland has signed a cooperation agreement with the Fryshuset youth organisation operating in Sweden. The youth work professionals of our local associations can now consult and share information with experts from the Fryshuset organisation. The goal is to develop our work that prevents inequality and gangs.

”Our collaboration with the Fryshuset youth organisation practically means sharing information and best practices, as well as consulting help to develop activities among young people. Thanks to the cooperation, our existing networks can now be utilised on both sides,” says general secretary Juha Virtanen from the YMCA Finland.

 

What factors are behind the incompetence and violent behavior experienced by young people?

“There are many elements that influence, but the common ones are poor school success, lack of positive contexts and role models and feeling of being excluded from society. It´s the young people who have not been given the circumstances to develop in a positive direction and who have not been picked up by the society in time. A decisive factor is that they feel hopeless for their own future. That´s why it is important to show that we believe in them and their abilities, give them confidence and responsibility and show them alternative paths”, says Raisa Lång Velazco, Head of international relationships from Fryshuset youth organization.

 

Our goal is to prevent the marginalization of young people

One evidence of the increase in youth malaise is the increase in violent crime among minors. In order to avoid a negative development, preventive work is important. From the young person’s point of view, it is primarily about inequality and being excluded from society.

”Young people need acceptance and safe adults to support their growth. Building trust and group activities carried out in a safe environment support young people’s sense of belonging to the community and opportunities to influence in society. For example, through hobbies, a young person can create friendships, gain new skills and experience everyday life as meaningful,” says project coordinator Anita Kirvesniemi from the YMCA Finland.

”We are bringing together professionals from our local YMCA’s who are already active in anti-equality work. The purpose is to organise professional development events and trainings with the Fryshuset organisation and to create a network of youth work experts, through which the exchange of information will be easier in the future”, Virtanen repeats ideas for implementing cooperation.

”Fryshuset has been working to prevent youth violence and gang involvement for a long time. Through cooperation, we have a great opportunity to learn practices that can support the well-being of young Finns”, continues Juha Virtanen.

 

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