Outreach youth work and youth workshop activities strengthen everyday skills and improve study readiness

Outreach youth work offers young people under the age of 29 the opportunity to receive personal guidance and support. Outreach youth workers primarily support young people who are not engaged in education or employment, as well as those seeking assistance with any concerns they may have. The services are voluntary, free of charge, and confidential.

– We have six outreach youth workers working in Vaasa. We do not require a referral. Anyone can contact us if they have concerns about a young person after discussing it with them; the young person themselves, their parents, or another person close to them, says Ulrika Luhtala, Team Leader with Vaasa’s outreach youth work.

You can contact Vaasa’s outreach youth work via social media, phone, e-mail, or online services.

The Outreach Youth Work Office is located at Raastuvankatu 30 (the yellow building), which also houses the Youth Information and Guidance Service Reimari, as well as Ohjaamo Vaasa.

The City of Vaasa also operates two youth workshops (Kartturi and Följy), offering support for life management and future planning to residents under 29 years of age. The results discussed below relate to Kartturi.

At the Kartturi Youth Workshop, young people can receive support with matters related to education or employment. Kartturi provides support with completing courses and assignments, finding a job or traineeship, and general life management. Participation in the activities is voluntary, free of charge, and confidential. Kartturi is located at Vamia’s Sampo campus.

Positive progress, particularly in terms of education and employment readiness

The results of the Sovari impact measure for outreach youth work and workshop activities in 2024 are a positive signal for Vaasa.

Outreach youth work:

• Young people rated the outreach youth work 4.7 out of 5 (the corresponding figure for 2023 was also 4.7).
• 100% of the young people experienced social empowerment through outreach youth work.
• Positive progress has been made in the following areas:
  • 92% in life management and goal-setting
  • 91% in study and work-life skills
  • 82% in managing daily tasks

Workshop activities (Kartturi Youth Workshop):

• Participants rate the workshop activities 4.8 on a scale of 1 to 5. For 2023, the corresponding figure was 4.3.
• 100% of participants experienced social empowerment during the workshop period
• Positive progress has been made in the following areas:
  • 100% in managing daily tasks
  • 100% in study and work-life skills
  • 96% in social skills, self-awareness, and life management

The social empowerment indicator offers comprehensive national data

The Sovari social empowerment indicator provides comprehensive national data on the quality and impact of outreach youth work and workshop activities on life skills.

The Sovari 2024 results are based on responses from young people during 2024.

In 2024, Vaasa’s outreach youth work had 325 clients (the number of contact requests). The Kartturi youth workshop had 71 young clients throughout the year.

Sovari is maintained by Into – Association for Outreach Youth Work and Workshop Activities.