The Helsinki Deaconess Foundation: ¡Vamos! Voices unheard

In Finland, there were over 60,000 marginalized young people in 2018. Unfortunately, recent social crises, remote schooling, and job layoffs have only worsened their situation. A large group of young men has either already fallen out of society or will do so soon. The causes of this problem are already becoming apparent: schools lack resources, and the current job market no longer recognizes primary school education alone. Mental health problems are prevalent and often lead to dropping out of the education system. This cycle of exclusion stems from issues like school bullying, incompetence, and dependence on income support, which is often generational in nature. Many parents of these young people suffer from the same problems themselves. All in all, there is a significant gap in the safety net of the welfare state, leaving tens of thousands of young people unsupported.

To help address this issue, the Helsinki Deaconess Foundation established the Vamos youth service, which provides young people with free volunteer-based counseling on all aspects of life. In 2018, the young people of Vamos created a media hub to share their stories via social media using videos, photos, and text. The media hub collaborated with Måndag to create a campaign, and each member of the media hub received a fee of 1,200 euros for their participation.

The big question is how to integrate young people into society and working life. This requires the support of companies and organizations. In 2021, Måndag continued its work by helping to develop a partnership strategy. Together with the Deaconess Institute, they are supporting young people through the Vamos program to help them transition to school and working life.

The Deaconess Institute has been supporting young people aged 16-29 for several years, providing assistance with everyday life and planning for the future. This service is free and voluntary for young people. The focus is on those who struggle with everyday life, mental health, housing, money, and access to education and employment. 86% of young people who received assistance in 2020 felt that their lives had improved.