Vaasa celebrates 80 years of youth work – young people still long to be heard

Ulrika Luhtala, Outreach Youth Work Team Leader with the City of Vaasa, has worked in youth services for 17 years. Over the course of her long career, she has had a front-row seat to the changes in young people and youth work itself.

– Youth work has become increasingly diverse. In the past, the focus was more on organising leisure activities, whereas today youth work also places a strong emphasis on individual support, multi-professional collaboration, and promoting young people’s wellbeing and participation in society, says Luhtala.

According to Luhtala, young people themselves have not fundamentally changed as much as people sometimes think.

– They still need safe adults, opportunities to be heard, a sense of community, and the freedom to grow into their true selves. What has changed, however, is the environment in which they are growing up. Social media, the constant flow of information, and the visibility of world events in young people’s everyday lives affect their wellbeing in ways that are very different from the past.

‘It is important just to be present – words aren’t always necessary’

Youth Service Coordinator Anne Lamminen also has a long career in youth work behind her.

– The best part of the job is the people you meet along the way. I’ve moved almost entirely into a coordination role, but I always have time for young people. It makes me happy when I run into young people I’ve worked with over the years.

Lamminen has many fond memories from her years in youth work.

– When I worked in school-based youth work, there was one young person with whom I always did jigsaw puzzles during breaks, and we seldom said a word. Years later, I met the same young person again, and they told me how meaningful those moments had been because they didn’t have to say anything. They were going through a difficult time in their life and seemed to be constantly expected to talk about their problems with a different adult. It is important just to be present – words aren’t always necessary.

According to Lamminen, youth workers get to be part of an important stage in young people’s lives.

– I believe it is essential that we have faith in young people. Even just one safe adult can make all the difference for a young person. In this line of work, you need to be genuinely interested in people.

Youth Work Week, 5–11 October, features open days, art and a disco

The 80th anniversary will be celebrated throughout the entire activity year, from autumn 2026 to autumn 2027. All regular activities organised by the Youth Services are included in the anniversary year programme.

– We’re celebrating youth work every day, as part of our daily work, says Mika Pietilä, Director of Youth Affairs.

The anniversary year will be launched with National Youth Work Week, which takes place from 5 to 11 October. The themed week highlights the valuable work that youth workers, organisations, municipalities, and parishes do to support young people.

In addition to its regular activities, the City of Vaasa’s Youth Services will mark the themed week with a programme of special events. The week’s programme includes open days, art activities, and a disco.

See the Youth Work Week programme in Vaasa!