The city leadership gained valuable data about the opinions and wishes of schoolchildren during the gathering at City Hall on Children’s Rights Day.
Why do we celebrate Children's Rights Day? This was the question that pedagogical specialist Heidi Halkilahti, one of the coordinators of the Voice of Children and Young People event, posed at City Hall.
The audience consisted of sharp-minded first- and second-graders, who came up with concise answer to the question:
“We celebrate Children's Rights Day so that children have the right to be children."
We celebrate Children's Rights Day so that children have the right to be children.
Children's Rights Day was celebrated on Wednesday, 20 November. In addition to primary school pupils, lower secondary school pupils from the suburban regeneration areas were invited to City Hall. New construction takes place in suburban regeneration areas to improve their attractiveness and services.
A similar event has been hosted once before. This time, the event’s participants were from the primary schools and lower secondary schools of Keinutie, Laakavuori, Nordsjö, Vesala and Malmi. The chosen theme was ‘Helsinki of My Dreams’.
Not all the first- and second-graders could fit in the City Hall lobby, and the children spilled over to parts of the City Museum.
The primary school discussion began in an immediate and unreserved fashion, when the task was to draw your neighbourhood’s favourite place.
Many of the drawings were about the nearby forest, the playground with its small hill and climbing racks. Favourites also included the school yards, football fields, swimming pools, and libraries. All of them are nearby, so it’s easy to get to them alone or with a friend.
And what do the children want to see more of? This proved to be a more difficult question. Well, the swimming hall could be even bigger. There could be even more football fields.
The children also wonder how their home could be even better and more inspiring. One second-grader put it brilliantly: “fewer dive bars, more ice cream bars”.
Gathered around small tables, it was easy to think about the themes. Specialists from all sectors of the city were at the event, which meant questions were also asked of the education, culture and leisure, and urban environment divisions, as well as the social services, health care and rescue services.
The children took turns pulling questions from a magician's hat. They were able to say what they had done at the library, if they are allowed to do things together at school, and what kinds of after-school activities are fun. The children also got to share their experiences with the school nurses.
Children seemed to have a good idea of what to do when things aren't going well – when they're feeling sick, lonely, or bullied. At school, they can turn to a teacher, the principal, a recess supervisor, an assistant or the school nurse. At home, you can talk to mom or dad.
And what makes them feel safe at school? According to the children, it’s just not the adults that create security at school, but also the friends and sometimes, the entire class.
When the views of children from different districts were compiled, it became clear that children and young adults like their own neighbourhoods.
In addition to their homes and schools, at Vuosaari, they like spending time at Vuotalo, the library, the swimming hall, and by the sea.
Schoolchildren from Kontula, too, think there’s a lot of great things about their ‘hood. What’s especially good is that there’s a lot to do. It’s just the reckless electric scooters and the after-dark mall that are a bit of a concern.
The children dream of having their own amusement park, right on their doorstep. If that is not possible, an game arcade might be a good replacement.
The first-graders of Laakavuori primary school, in Mellunmäki, wished to have more football fields in their neighbourhood and were pleased to hear that a multi-purpose field and a large artificial grass field will be built in the new sports park.
In the meantime, first-graders will get to enjoy the hundred days celebration, after their first hundred days of school life. They are getting close to the finish line, as they already have 70 days under their belts.
First graders love the metro. It makes traveling so easy that you can visit a friend’s house, even without your parents.
Pupils from Laakavuori primary school wondered if the new fine school will be big enough. Their current school and yard are a touch small. The children think that it must be possible to move around the yard properly, so that recess doesn’t get dominated by the smartphone.
The wishes that the children drew and told are collected and forwarded to those responsible.
Guidance counsellor Merituuli Vuorikoski was there to oversee the Vesala lower secondary school’s peer support pupil group.
“I knew they could express themselves, but their level of expression managed to surprise me anyway. I learned a lot from the discussions, especially about the kids’ perspective of Vesala and Kontula. This was a fascinating experience.”
She got to know the young adults’ favourite places, since they tagged them in aerial photos. Marks were placed in the skate park, youth centre, sports park, the nearby forests and the best cafes, among others.
They think that the public perception of Vesala and Kontula is overly glum. There are so many opportunities for hobbies or just hanging out with friends in these neighbourhoods. However, they do think that the mall could also see a change and have fewer bars.
The discussions highlighted the importance of having trustworthy adults at school. It must be possible to turn to them whenever necessary.
The pupils were impressed by the fantastic lunch cafeteria on the second floor of City Hall. At the same time, they could see where the city council meets and makes decisions. Lots of photos were taken of the banquet hall and sculptures. It also came up that any one of them could be a future decision-maker.
“The event left us all in a good mood. The kids felt heard and that they could make a difference,” says Vuorikoski.
Second grade teacher Heini Puro, of Keinutie primary school, also heaped praise on the event. In her opinion, it is important that even the youngest schoolchildren are involved and heard. Everyone can take turns to join the student association that collects opinions in their own school.
Puro said that she was very happy and proud of her students, who got involved with no reservation and talked about their ideas and views. Of course, they had prepared and thought things out in advance for the event.
“The questions that we had thought about were really good. The kids may not have been able to share all their thoughts, so we are going to work on the themes more at school.”
Puro says that it is usually quite easy to get children involved in new ideas. You add something new every now and then, the daily grind gets easier.
“Events like this are a big help, because tomorrow we will be able to better focus on the more boring things.”
At the end of the morning classes, Heidi Halkilahti asked her charges to wave if they’re in a good mood. A quick glance showed that it looked like everyone was waving.
Author: Kirsi Riipinen
Photos: Kirsi Riipinen and Tiina Antila-Lehtonen
