More summer jobs for young people: clear winner emerges in participatory budgeting

A total of 2,551 votes were cast in the participatory budgeting vote.

Vaasa residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of an idea to give young people summer jobs planting useful plants and combating invasive species. It received 1,243 votes, nearly 49% of all votes cast.

Second place went to a small observation tower at a nature site, with 315 votes (12% of all votes), and third place to more urban greenery and community food gardens, with 252 votes (10%).

All the ideas put to the vote were drawn from proposals submitted by Vaasa residents.

Around 15 young people to receive summer jobs

This year, 50,000 euros has been set aside for implementing residents’ ideas. Half of that sum, around 25,000 euros, will be used to employ young people.

– This amount will allow us to employ around 15 young people. The remaining 25,000 euros will be used for things such as purchasing useful plants and soil, machinery work, and transport, says head gardener Kaj-Erik Grandell.

The young people will be offered work during the coming summer, in periods of approximately 2–4 weeks. The positions will be offered to young people who have already applied to the city for summer work but have not been placed.

– Around ten young people will be hired in July to weed out invasive species. These summer workers will be 14–17 years old. The planting of useful plants will take place later in the autumn, and around five young people over the age of 18 will be hired for that work, says recruitment coordinator Anne Lindell.

Here is how Vaasa residents explained why they supported more summer jobs for young people:

• Both the young people who get jobs and all the city’s residents would benefit from this.
• Two important things for the price of one: employing young people and supporting the biodiversity of Finnish nature!
• It’s important to give young people more work opportunities and to remove invasive species.
• There’s a serious shortage of summer jobs, and useful plants would bring joy to many.
• In the current employment situation, every opportunity for a young person to get acquainted with working life is valuable.
• A fantastic idea! Weeding out invasive species and more jobs for young people, perfect. Young people get to spend time in nature and do meaningful work!
• Encouragement to young people and a sense of hope about working life. A message to young people that they’re needed and that their skills are valued. Working life also teaches young people about financial literacy and the value of money.

Vaasa Celebrates the Green Leaf Year in 2026

In honour of the Green Leaf year, all ideas put to the vote promote sustainability and enhance the wellbeing of both the environment and Vaasa residents.

Vaasa is the 2026 European Green Leaf city. The award, granted by the European Commission, is given to cities that promote sustainable development and take determined action for the environment and climate.

In honour of this anniversary year, part of the participatory budgeting sum of 50,000 euros is being funded from the prize money Vaasa received for the Green Leaf award.

Residents take part in shaping their own environment

The aim of participatory budgeting is for residents to be involved in developing their own surroundings and to highlight ways in which public funds can be used.

Residents’ wishes have already given rise to a cherry blossom park on the shore of Onkilahti, a wildflower meadow in Vaskiluoto, toys for daycare centres, larger waste bins and additional benches along the Waterfront Route, and a winter swimming spot in the Inner Harbour. In 2025, the winning idea was rowing boats for borrowing.

The next round of participatory budgeting will take place in 2027.