Youth Academy celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. This blog post takes a look at the history and different phases of our organization, as well as reflects on our current state of being and possible future directions. The original blog post was written in Finnish by our communications assistant Maisa Lokka and it’s based on interviews given by Teemu Japisson, Youth Academy’s first executive director and Heikki Vuojakoski, the current executive director.
The first steps of Youth Academy
In the early 1990s, the idea emerged within what was then known as the Nuori Suomi organization that young people should gain concrete benefits from their long-term involvement in sports clubs, such as coaching and completed training courses. As a result, representatives from different organizations were invited to discuss issues related to young people. The discussions also revealed a challenge that was recognized by all organizations: membership numbers were falling among middle school-aged youth.
The Youth Academy was founded in 1994 by national youth and sports organizations. The primary mission of the newly founded organization was to value voluntary and recreational activities and support young people’s self-initiated projects. The core product that was developed was a training book and a tutor training program. The training book helped young people document the skills and experiences they gained through their hobbies and volunteer work, improving their chances when applying for jobs and further education. Through the tutor program, mentors were trained to guide and engage young people, as well as to record their active participation in the training book.
Teemu Japisson became the first executive director of the Youth Academy in 1998, at a time when the organization was still in its formative stages. Japisson worked as the sole employee for the first two years, responsible for starting the activities and developing the organization in collaboration with Youth Academy’s member organizations.
Development phases and an evolving mission
Heikki Vuojakoski, the current executive director, has been in the role since 2000 and reflects on the significant development steps taken by the organization over the years. The first major milestone in the Youth Academy’s history was the development of the training book and the tutor program. Later, the range of services expanded with the launch of Mahis (“Opportunity is in You”) initiative, offering support to youth with fewer opportunities as well as initiatives aimed at supporting educational work in schools. As these developments progressed, the training books and the tutor program took a back seat, and Youth Academy focused on providing services to adults working with young people.
“Increasing impact through adults has been proved to be a more effective way to reach especially youth with fewer opportunities who might not otherwise participate,” says Vuojakoski.
In the late 2010s, the Youth Academy took another major step by launching the Center of Expertise on Participation and Influencing (“Osallisuuden Osaamiskeskus”), which brought in actors from the public sector. Ministries and other organizations began to utilize Youth Academy’s expertise in involving young people in decision-making.
The Youth Academy’s mission has evolved over time, adapting to changing needs and environments, and it could be said that the organization stands out for its ability to continuously adjust its core mission to remain relevant and timely. The Youth Academy has grown from a supporter of recreational and volunteer activities to a concrete implementer and expert in youth participation.
The impact of Youth Academy on young people and society
Youth Academy has played a significant role in promoting participatory democracy and social change.
“We have supported and accelerated the ongoing societal movement towards a new democracy and an inclusive society. This is how we have influenced young people at different stages of their lives,” summarizes Vuojakoski.
Additionally, Youth Academy has an important role in supporting local actors, such as schools and organizations, so that they can better respond to the needs of young people.
Vuojakoski emphasizes that paying attention to the needs and expectations of young people has always been a central part of the Youth Academy’s activities, which is why the organization constantly assesses how well its services and programs meet the real needs of young people.
“In our work, we assume that adults working with young people have a lot of knowledge about what young people need. However, it’s also important for us to check if these are truly the things that will benefit young people.”
Currently, Youth Academy reaches approximately 100,000 young people annually.
Current challenges, opportunities and future prospects
The current operating environment of Youth Academy presents both challenges and opportunities. The biggest challenge is government budget cuts, which create instability for a project-funded organization. The future growth direction is seen in international activities and funding, opening up opportunities to consider expanding as a European actor. Additionally, the demand for digital working methods and participatory methods continues to grow, and young people’s ideas and opportunities for influence are attracting increasing interest from various stakeholders.
Heikki Vuojakoski stresses that the most important thing for the future is embedding participatory approaches into the daily lives of the target groups.
“Participation is not just a general concept that anyone can join. It means learning, developing, and applying methods and approaches that enable genuine participation and opportunities for influence.”
30 years of success has been built on collaboration
The 30-year journey of Youth Academy has been filled with growth, innovations, and meaningful encounters – all underpinned by strong collaboration. Member organizations, partners, and trustees have been involved in supporting and building the organization’s activities from the beginning.
“Youth Academy has had the pleasure of working with many different partners, important and reliable stakeholders, and big-hearted trustees. They have given us the opportunity to do and learn together,” Heikki Vuojakoski emphasizes.
Equally important has been internal collaboration and valuing it. Over the years, Youth Academy has been supported by an innovative and enthusiastic work community where ideas flourish, and projects come to life.
Over the years, Youth Academy has transformed from an organization producing training books and tutor programs into an expert organization on youth participation and well-being. Its strengths lie in its ability to adapt and respond to the needs of young people and the adults working with them. The years have taught that maintaining adaptability, staying up-to-date, and remembering the power of collaboration are crucial. With these strengths, the Youth Academy will continue to work for strengthening youth participation and active citizenship in the future, too.