The Walkers car meets young people in Tuusula
The Walkers car will arrive in Tuusula on 10 April, following in the tyre tracks of its big sister, the Walkers bus. The project complements the municipality’s mobile youth work, in which youth workers meet young people wherever they happen to be. During the scheme, which runs until the end of the year, young people can also request the car to come to them, even for longer journeys.
Walkers vehicles, or ‘Wautos’, are motorhomes that have been converted into mobile youth work units. Wautos are used for mobile youth work, which involves taking trusted adults to places where young people spend their time. In Tuusula, staff from the local youth services accompany the vehicle on its rounds.
A mobile youth centre called Puuma will launch its activities in Tuusula on Friday 10 April and will be open to local young people until the end of the year.
We need trusted adults
Wautos are designed specifically to reach young people who do not live near youth centres. The municipality has five youth centres, but not everyone is able to attend them due to distance or other reasons.
– The presence of supportive adults is important for young people’s development and growth. If a young person is facing problems or has questions, we adults can offer different perspectives and guide them in a certain direction, says Aleksi Kettunen, a youth worker with Tuusula Municipality.
He hopes that the Walkers car project will be a good start to the development of outreach youth work in Tuusula.
We reach out to all young people
The Walkers bus, Aseman Lasten’s main mobile youth work vehicle, was in operation in Hyrylä and Jokela throughout February and March. Local municipal youth work professionals were involved in the activities at that time too, some of whom can also be seen behind the wheel of the Walkers car.
– Our collaboration has got off to a flying start, and in Tuusula we are now keen to try out the low-threshold Walkers initiative, which reaches out to all young people. The initiative aims to build trust with young people who face challenges in their lives that prevent them from participating in hobbies or other leisure activities, explains Minna Lahtela, head of the national Walkers programme.
Wauto will be out and about at least three evenings a week across the whole of Tuusula municipality, including during the summer. Young people can invite Wauto to visit them via social media or by message. You can follow the van’s movements and submit requests on Instagram and Snapchat using the hashtag @wauto_tuusula, and on WhatsApp via the number 040 314 2217.
We are looking for volunteers
Volunteers are an important part of the Walkers programme. We also need adult volunteers for the Tuusula Walkers car scheme, and you can apply by contacting Aleksi Kettunen. Volunteers will be trained for their role and will be able to work with young people, particularly during the summer season.
Further information:
Aleksi Kettunen, Youth Worker, Tuusula Municipality, tel. 040 314 2217, aleksi.kettunen@tuusula.fi
Minna Lahtela, Head of National Walkers Activities, Aseman Lapset ry, tel. 040 777 8683, minna.lahtela@asemanlapset.fi
The Walkers programme is a low-threshold youth work initiative developed by Aseman Lapset, based on the time and presence of professionals and adult volunteers.
Walkers vehicles, or Wautos, offer local organisations the opportunity to trial and implement mobile youth work and Walkers activities. In 2025, Wautos reached nearly 6,000 young people. More than half of them do not take part in any other leisure activities aimed at young people.
You can support Walkers by donating via the MobilePay app to the number 10780.
This content has been translated using AI