From a Buddy Bench to a Friendship Disco – the Theme of the Influential Day was Children’s and Young People’s Ideas to Reduce Loneliness
The annual Influential Day for children and young people was held at City Hall on April 20 and April 22, 2026. The theme of the day was reducing loneliness. Children and young people shared concrete ideas and practical everyday solutions for preventing loneliness, especially in schools. One recurring message that emerged from the pre-tasks and dialogue sessions was: invite others to join in.
Young people discussed the role of hobbies in reducing loneliness at the Influential Day. Photo: City of Vantaa / Satu Velasco
Children and the young made an impact already in advance
Compliant with tradition, schools and educational institutions were sent pre-tasks before the Influential Day, on the basis of which the spring’s Influential Day was built. The pre-tasks generated great interest across schools and institutions throughout Vantaa. Nearly ninety posters with the theme Together Against Loneliness were submitted by elementary schools and preschools. The posters showcased school practices that strengthen a sense of community, as well as children’s own ways of making friends.
A total of 1,701 lower secondary and upper secondary students in Vantaa participated in an online Voxit discussion. In these discussions, young people pondered on what Vantaa is like for the young and how schools, urban spaces, and leisure activities can foster a sense of community and prevent loneliness. One of the key issues in these discussions was that young people need free-of-charge, low-threshold spaces where they can simply spend time together.
"More places where you can go after school to do crafts and get to know new people."
"Activity organizers could visit schools to tell students about different hobby opportunities."
School is often the key to preventing loneliness
According to the young, the school is the most natural place to intervene in loneliness with the help of grouping, group-building activities, adult presence, and easily accessible support. While hobbies were seen as important, young people emphasized that even high-quality facilities do not reduce loneliness if participation is unaffordable. During the Influential Day dialogues, children and the young explored themes of community from different perspectives through in-depth discussions.
"Group-building could continue throughout the whole semester."
"The discussions brought up good ideas against bullying. I think there could be a lesson at school where bullying is discussed."
Best practices from posters will be compiled into a classroom guide
The posters created as part of the pre-tasks highlighted numerous concrete best practices for preventing loneliness. The posters emphasized, for example, buddy and play benches, recess buddies, buddy-class activities, shared recess games, clubs, friendship rooms, and whole-school theme days and events. Messages such as “don’t bully” and “don’t leave anyone out” appeared repeatedly in many of the posters.
An exhibition of the posters was displayed at Influential Day, and the materials will also be published online to support schools and youth work at: vantaa.fi/en/influential-day. In addition, schools will receive a classroom guide compiling ideas for reducing loneliness that can be implemented in everyday school life.
"Let young people's voice be heard more!"
Influential Day is an annual City of Vantaa event that gives children and young people the opportunity to influence issues that affect them and to make their views heard by decision-makers.
