Individual Youth Work
Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned, things get tangled, and situations may feel overwhelming. That’s when our youth workers are here to help. Individual Youth Work is based on the unique needs of each young person. Everyone’s situation is different, and so is the support we offer. Please don’t hesitate to reach out — we’re here for you, with no pressure and no judgment.
We offer support for young people facing challenging life situations at different stages of life. Our Individual Youth Work services include:
- Outreach Youth Work
- Targeted Youth Work
- Youth Workshops
Targeted Youth Work focuses on supporting lower secondary school-aged youth, while Outreach Youth Work and Youth Workshops are designed for young people aged 16 to 29.
You can find contact details and more information about each service below.
The educational goal of individual youth work is to enable a young person to develop in peace and support their well-being. Young people are encouraged to find their own identity and encouraged to bring out their own voice. Individual youth work supports young people in developing different skills and strengths in interaction with peers and reliable adults.
Targeted Youth Work
In targeted youth work, support is provided to young people facing challenging life situations, with a focus on adolescents in lower secondary school. The aim is to promote the physical, psychological, and social well-being of young people and to support their growth and development.
A youth worker is a safe and supportive adult who walks alongside the young person, motivating and encouraging them toward positive choices. When there is concern about a young person, it is advisable to contact targeted youth work with a very low threshold.
Our forms of activity include:
- Individual support
- Early intervention
- Small group activities, camps, and excursions
- Outreach work among young people, for example on the streets, in shopping centers, or in digital environments
- Network collaboration: other units of youth services, parents, educational institutions, social workers, police, substance abuse clinics, parishes, and other stakeholders.
Contact
Pirjo Pietikäinen
Nuorisotyöntekijä, Kohdennettu nuorisotyö
Charlotta Österberg
Nuorisotyöntekijä, Kohdennettu nuorisotyö
Ahti Herttua
Nuorisotyöntekijä, Kohdennettu nuorisotyö
Outreach Youth Work
We support young people aged 16 to 29 who are not in employment, education, or other services—or who are at risk of becoming excluded from them.
We provide individual support based on each young person’s background, needs, and wishes. Participation is entirely voluntary.
We see young people as active agents in their own lives—individuals who solve their own challenges and build the future they want. We are here to support them, but we do not solve their problems for them. The young person is responsible for their own life.
You can access outreach youth work services independently. Family members, authorities, professionals working with young people, and representatives of associations can also take contact on behalf of a young person.
Contact is made through the electronic notification system for outreach youth work:
You can also call our youth workers or send an email to: etsivant@porvoo.fi
Contact
Jarmo Veijalainen
Nuorisotyöntekijä, Etsivä nuorisotyö
Milla Peltola
Nuorisotyöntekijä, Etsivä nuorisotyö
Niklas Helenius
Nuorisotyöntekijä, Etsivä nuorisotyö
Marianne Chanth
Nuorisotyöntekijä, Etsivä nuorisotyö
Youth Workshops
Porvoo’s youth workshops for Porvoo residents are located in the WSOY building and include two programs:
- Suunta Workshop for young people aged 15–18
- Väylä Workshop for young adults aged 18–29.
The workshops offer group and individual coaching, participation in both is mandatory as part of the workshop program. Participants practice skills related to well-being, working life, and studies in a positive and encouraging environment.
The duration of the workshop period and the young person’s individual goals are planned together with the young person and their support network. At Väylä, the duration is 2–6 months, and at Suunta, up to 12 months.
The workshops operate bilingually, group activities in Swedish and Finnish. Basic level of Finnish or Swedish language skill is required. Individual coaching can be held in English. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. sverksamheten genomförs tvåspråkigt och en kontinuerlig ansökan pågår till verksamheten.