Children and young people decided on a budget of 160 000 € in Vantaa – the money will be used to build cable slides and organise outdoor movies

In Vantaa, cable slides are being built and outdoor movies are being organised, and the study environments of Vantaa's high schools and vocational college Varia are being improved. These matters were decided by Vantaa's children and young people in participatory budgeting process. The winning proposals were published on the Influential Day on Wednesday, April 26 at Vantaa City Hall.

Children and young people decided the use of 160 000 euros by voting. 13 proposals will be implemented with the money.

The students of basic schools voted on the use of money in four areas: Kivistö–Aviapolis, Korso–Koivukylä, Myyrmäki and Tikkurila–Hakunila. The students of Vantaa upper secondary schools and vocational college Varia decided on the use of money at their own educational institutions.

The winning proposals of basic schools emphasize exercise and spending free time together. Upper secondary education students and vocational students voted for proposals for seating, common parties and cultural days that improve the comfort and communal spirit of the study environments.

Proposals were made and voted on by schoolchildren, upper secondary school students and Varia vocational school students. The proposals were also voted on by the Vantaa preschoolers. More than 11600 children and young people casted their votes.

– That's a huge number, Katri Kalske, acting mayor, commented happily.

– During this school year, the children and young people of Vantaa have really had the chance to think about how the city's money is spent. It's exactly the same work that the city council does, said Kalske.

Children and young people were also able to present more proposals to the city's decision-makers in the panel discussions organised on the Influential Day, in which, in addition to the young people of Vantaa, the city's employees and trustees participated.

Children and young people hope, among other things, that the city increases inexpensive or free hobbies and saves forests when expanding the city.

The Influential Day was organized in Vantaa for the 15th time. The city organizes the event with the youth council. The purpose of the annual Influential Day is to increase opportunities for children and young people to participate and influence. The Influential Day is part of Vantaa's Child-Friendly Cities initiative.

This year, the theme of the Influential Day was participatory budgeting. In the years 2023–2024, the people of Vantaa can decide on the use of a total of 1.2 million euros in the city's participatory budgeting.