Ideas of children and young people for implementing Vantaa's strategy: from collecting garbage to supporting teachers’ coping

Supporting teachers’ knowhow and wellbeing  

The children and teens that participated in the Movers & Shakers Day were of the opinion that the city must arrange training in how teachers can intervene in situations of bullying and discrimination. Experts in children’s lives, such as student welfare officers, should head these events. The young believed that teachers need more knowhow in intervening in bullying and discrimination.  

“What is needed is an account asking about teachers’ intervening and what they need to be able to better intervene. It is also important to account for teachers’ coping and wellbeing.” 

“Adults’ presence in schools should be increased. The city could arrange bullying-free evenings. A good and safe atmosphere prevents bullying.” 

Hobby voucher would increase children’s possibilities of engaging in hobbies  

All children and the young do not have the same possibilities of engaging in hobbies. Vantaa offers numerous hobbies, but not everybody can afford to participate in them. . 

“Could there be free-of-charge hobbies, since not everybody has the money to participate in them? Even though hobby activities have been increased, limited means can still be an obstacle.” 

“The city should launch a hobby voucher that would be distributed on a needs basis. It would increase low-threshold hobby activities and create non-discrimination.”  

Children and the young also wish that the city provide more information on free-of-charge hobby options and arrange, for example, more exercise events. Moreover, the residents’ own motivation for exercise should be boosted. 

“Everybody should have access to sports facilities within a five-kilometer range where they could independently try different sports and engage in physical exercise.

Children and the young want more information on jobs and professions 

Children and the young are interested in and want additional information on different jobs and career options. Schools should tell more about different jobs so that everybody could find a suitable job. 

“For example, a video project on different professions would work well.” 

“Schools should inform about summer-job options on a summer-job wall.” 

"Schools are encouraged to use local businesses, to support them, as well as to tell friends about them."

"There could also be hobby groups focused on various objects of interest that would teach the knowhow and skills needed for working life."

Stand up paddleboarding as reward for collecting garbage  

Children and the young think that everybody must participate in building a sustainable future. The City of Vantaa could arrange an event where collecting garbage or performing another environmental act would accrue balance with which one could borrow a stand up paddle or a city bike. 

As far as construction is concerned, children and the young demand that the city account for stopping loss of biodiversity.  

“One must conserve nature so that the homes of animals be saved.” 

Children and the young want more sorting of garbage in parks and on other public premises. City-owned buildings should have solar panels and green roofs.  

“Hobby equipment could be easily recycled. Plastic can often be replaced. You can also engage in more outdoor hobbies.” 

“Trash-picking walks are a good custom.” 

“If you don’t have to travel far, it’s better to choose cycling or walking. Services should be situated in such a way that they can be accessed by muscle power.” 

“Using city bikes should be allowed for children, too. Public transportation should be faster and more expansive.” 

International Vantaa wishes everybody welcome  

The children and young that participated in the Influential Day want Vantaa to increase residents’ possibilities of getting to know one another. 

“The city could arrange multilingual events where one could get to know different cultures and operating methods and ask questions one otherwise is too shy to ask.” 

“Learning one's own mother tongue should be appreciated, and schools support multilingualism in every means possible.” 

“It is important that everybody feels safe being themselves.” 

Vantaa could also do more to attract people to come to Vantaa.   

“There should be more interesting tourist attractions,” say the children and the young who participated in the Influential Day.