Youth Garage

Monday 3:00–8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Thursday 3:00–8:00 p.m.

Porvoo Youth Services is developing moped-related activities in collaboration with young people and volunteers. The project is being carried out in cooperation with the Finnish Parish of Porvoo and the Motor Workshop at the Children and Youth Center. The goal is to launch year-round youth garage activities, organize legal riding and moped events, and prepare a joint traffic safety project for Eastern Uusimaa. 

The program supports young people in their moped hobby, strengthens their traffic safety skills, and increases opportunities for independent activity and participation among young people. The main objectives of the project are: 

• Strengthening youth and supporting youth activities 
• Promoting traffic safety   
• A decrease in disruptive behavior and related issues associated with moped riding 
• Highlighting the positive aspects of moped riding and influencing attitudes 
• Providing intoxicant-free leisure activities and a community

The Youth Garage provides young people with a space and the tools they need to maintain and customize their vehicles and learn together. The program includes: 

• Open Youth Garage for all young people over the age of 13 who are interested in mopeds and engines  
• Group activities 
• Events organized in collaboration with young people  
• Internships and work experience opportunities for young people

The purpose of events planned and carried out with young people is to create safer alternatives to illegal moped gatherings, strengthen young people’s skills in organizing events and collaborating, and provide them with the opportunity to have a say and create activities for other young people.  

Traffic safety is a cross-cutting theme in all activities. The project will organize themed events, such as the “Brakes in order” and “Lights in order” campaigns, and will develop a regional road safety project in collaboration with neighboring municipalities and expert organizations. 

Funding for the project is sought annually from the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland (ESAVI). 

Professionals, students, and various associations and organizations interested in the Youth Garage activities are welcome to visit and learn more about what we do. The best time to visit the moped workshop is outside of regular opening hours, at a time arranged in advance. By scheduling a visit, you ensure that staff and volunteers have time to tell you about our activities. During workshop hours, staff and volunteers focus on interacting with young people and working on mopeds, so we cannot guarantee a tour of our operations during those times.

Young people who are interested in our activities are welcome to visit the workshop during opening hours.

If you’re interested in doing a work trial, a study-related internship, or a TET internship at the moped workshop, please contact us well in advance. We can only accept a limited number of interns, and spots are filling up quickly right now. When looking for an internship, please make sure that your internship goals can be achieved through the moped workshop’s activities.

Youth Garage open activities are carried out using a buddy system, which involves a youth work professional and a trained volunteer. Anyone aged 18 or older who is interested in working with young people and is willing to commit to the values and practices of youth work can apply to be a volunteer. As a volunteer, you can serve as a mentor in Youth Garage open activities; you don’t need any expertise in engines or mopeds—enthusiasm and an interest in supporting young people and enjoying moped riding as a hobby are enough.

Volunteers do not receive a salary or compensation, but we organize recreational activities and training sessions for active volunteers in collaboration with the Children and Youth Center’s Motor Workshop program.