For the appreciation of youth voluntary activities
Non-formal
learning in youth and sport organisations
Young people are often very active in voluntary activities. They attend projects, hold positions of trust and responsibility, take courses etc. In these activities young people learn all the valuable skills that they need e.g. at work life: co-operation and team work skills, communication skills, problem solving, creativity, awareness of environmental issues, ability to adjust, enterprising spirit etc. Voluntary activities offer many good places to learn these skills. Especially now during the high unemployment in Finland young people don’t have much places to practise in "real" work situations.
These mentioned skills are usually the ones that one cannot learn by reading books. One has to learn them by doing, in concrete situations, by taking responsibility. This way of non-formal learning, in addition to learning at school, is becoming more and more recognised in Finland. One of the biggest efforts to promote this goal was the establishment of Youth Academy and the study book in 1994.
The Recreational Activity Study Book helps when beginning studies and entering into work life
Activity in projects, holding positions of trust, courses that are taken and other recreational activities can be recorded in the study book that is meant for young people over 13 years old. The young person benefits from recording his merits and different skills. The merits are useful for the young person in that once he starts his studies he can get extra points for them and/or replace a part of his studies with them.
Experience that is collected in one book can also make finding a job easier. Most employers value active young people who are experienced and used to do e.g. different projects. From the study book they can easily see what the young person has done.
Youth Academy takes care of and informs about contacts with schools and employers. The Academy has concluded agreements with different schools (in the beginning of 1999 about 200 schools) on how to value voluntary activities. Among others, the training of nursery school teachers and training in schools of social, technical, health, hotel and restaurant, youth, sports and commercial skills are already included. More agreements are being made all the time. The goal of Youth Academy is to also involve employers in the activities.
The merits in the study book are recorded by a person in an authorised position. The study book notes are always confirmed by the signature and the personal information of the authorised person.
The study book is personal and it costs 30 FIM (5 Euro). At the moment (Aug 1999) there are about 40.000 study book holders.
Self-determined projects and the tutors
Another important aim of Youth Academy is to encourage and support young people to do different voluntary projects. Young people don’t usually want to commit themselves to long term voluntary service anymore and projects are a good way of doing and learning. Projects must be determined and organised by young people themselves. This way they get experience in taking responsibility and they learn valuable skills.
Youth Academy offers support to these projects by giving small contributions and by training tutors. The job of a tutor is to support young people when they are carrying out their own projects in organisations, schools, congregations, free groups...
The role of the tutor can vary greatly in different projects. In some projects the tutor is a guiding leader, in others he is a supportive job supervisor. The choice of role is influenced by the traditions of the organisation and the situation at the given time. If necessary, the role of the tutor is to arouse ideas, to offer choices, to support and to encourage - but throughout he should make sure that the young people take their own steps and find their own solutions.
The tutor marks the completed project in the young persons study book and affirms it with his signature and the stamp of Youth Academy.
Youth Academy
Youth Academy is a service organisation for all organisations that work with young people. It was established by all the youth and sport organisations in Finland. Youth Academy’s services are open to ALL young people, one doesn’t have to be a member of any organisation.
The organisations founded Youth Academy to support their own activities. With the help of the Academy the organisations wish to
- increase the appreciation of voluntary activities,
- offer the chance to take part in self-determined voluntary activities and projects to more and more young people
- to increase co-operation between the different organisations that work with young people.
The work and the goals of Youth Academy are based on the following values:
- the needs of the young people guide the activities
- the organisations serve the needs of young people - pluralism
- there is no one right way for activities
- all points of views are respected
- differences are seen as enrichment openness
- by sharing information and skills everyone gets more - taking part
- Youth Academy is built up from the local and regional actions of individuals and groups
- everyone builds his/her own Youth Academy
More information about Youth Academy and the study book
Nuorten Akatemia
Olympiastadion
Eteläkaarre
00250 Helsinki
Finland
Tel. +358-9-3487 0600
e-mail: lauri.savisaari@nuortenakatemia.fi
www.nuortenakatemia.fi
