Developing youth activities for the summer

In Tuusula, youth activities have ended in June and August in recent summers, during which time youth facilities have been closed and there have been no organised activities for children and young people. This has resulted in restless behaviour, substance abuse and disruptive behaviour among young people. Not all families are able to go on holiday due to the parents’ work or financial situation. The current sharp rise in costs will further exacerbate the problem. Many children and young people spend the summer without adult supervision and with nowhere to go. A place where they could be with friends and safe adults who listen and are there for them. It is clear that, in terms of the well-being of children and young people, such guided activities and social contacts would support their growth. Problems such as loneliness, malaise and exclusion are increasing among many children and young people when the regularity and rhythm provided by school is lost.

We hope that people will wake up to the malaise and loneliness experienced by children and young people, and one concrete step would be to keep youth centres open throughout the summer. The malaise and loneliness experienced by children and young people cannot wait until, for example, multi-purpose campuses are built in year x and facilities are made available for youth activities; these facilities are needed now. Walls alone are not enough; skilled youth workers are also needed.

We propose that measures be taken to develop summer activities for children and young people so that next summer we will have youth facilities open and activities running throughout the summer in Tuusula.

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