European City Leaders Explored Vantaa’s Social Innovations
In June, Vantaa hosted the Eurocities network’s Social Affairs Forum annual meeting, where European city leaders and experts networked and exchanged best practices among participating countries.
Vantaa isännöi tänä vuonna Social Affairs Forumia muun muassa Aviapoliksessa.
This year’s forum theme was “Co-Creating Tomorrow's Cities: Joining Forces for Social Innovation”. Partnerships between different stakeholders is essential in large cities, where segregation, rising housing costs, learning difficulties, and low youth participation become challenges.
The City of Vantaa has faced these challenges with innovative and participatory methods and shared its experiences and expertise with other cities at the Social Affairs Forum meeting.
In total, about 180 participants attended the forum.
Visits to Local Innovations
European guests visited various locations around Vantaa, including early childhood education and the school system. At Tiedonjyvä daycare center and Jokiniemi school, guests learned about Finnish education and innovative learning environments both indoors and outdoors.
The guests met participants of the project helping parents on integration path to become employed or to find further education possibilities. In the same local schools where their children study, they participate in e.g. language instruction, and receive information about further education opportunities and assistance in finding employment.
Meaningful Participation Opportunities for Youth
Eurocities guests also visited the Myyrmäki Youth Center, which actively collaborates with other local actors, such as GettoGym. GettoGym aims to keep young people away from violence and street gangs.
Guests also were acquainted with the annual Influencer Day for all school children, Vantaa’s Youth Council, and how Timeout Foundation’s discussion method is used as a tool for participation.
One visit focused on Vantaa’s SMILE project, funded by the Council of Europe Development Bank and the European Commission. The project’s goal is to strengthen the integration, employment, and school-home cooperation of immigrant families.
The project uses new communal methods to create dialogue between communities, schools, and service providers. The Tsemppari work-life coaching within the SMILE project supports immigrants and helps them find employment by providing personal support for job searching.
The situation of NEET youth, who are not in education, employment, or training, was illustrated during a visit to the Liito multipurpose youth space, since Vantaa is one of the major cities in Finland with a significant number of NEET youth. Together, the participants worked to find solutions to this issue.
Liito includes multiple opportunities for young people to participate in activities and receive services. The space also hosts workshops and personal coaching services for young people aged 18-28 who are outside the labor market. The young visitors also have access to kitchen, cultural, and craft workshops.
Volunteers Supporting Ukraine
Guests also visited the logistics centre of Ukrainian Association in Finland in Vantaa, operated by volunteers. The centre is located in a former school, which has in this way found a new purpose. At the logistics centre, volunteers sort donated supplies and pack them for shipment to Ukraine, to civilians, the front line, hospitals, and reconstruction efforts.
- The Eurocities’ Social Affairs Forum annual meeting was held in Vantaa on June 11-13, 2024. About 180 participants attended the meeting.
- The international meeting introduced participants to Vantaa’s social innovations.
- The event was organized by Eurocities, a network of major European cities founded in 1986. Eurocities includes over 200 major European cities from 39 countries.
