It is important for everyone to be heard, and everyone must be guaranteed the right to influence their own affairs.
The voting age is 18 in many elections. In parish elections the age is 16. In the City of Vaasa youth council elections, anyone who in the election year is at least in 7th grade and at most 20 years old and whose municipality of residence is Vaasa can stand as a candidate and vote in the elections.
In addition to voting, young people have many other ways to influence. Young people can influence matters concerning youth, for example through the youth council or student councils. There are also many other ways to make an impact, such as:
- By contacting decision-makers and officials directly (by phone, email, face to face)
- By giving feedback via the City of Vaasa’s feedback channel
- By writing an opinion piece to a newspaper (for example about an issue currently affecting young people)
- By collecting signatures for a petition for an important cause or participating in a demonstration
- By paying attention to your consumption choices (sustainable development, recycling, personal dietary choices, etc.)
In order for young people’s voices to be heard in decision-making, they must be consulted in different ways.
Youth Council
As the largest youth influencer group on issues concerning the whole City of Vaasa, the youth council is the main body. Young people themselves elect representatives to the youth council every two years. The role of the youth council is to try to make Vaasa the best place to live from young people’s perspective. You can leave ideas and initiatives to the youth council to help achieve this.
Student councils
Student councils operate in all basic education schools and upper secondary institutions in Vaasa.
The student council consists of all pupils and students of the school or educational institution. The student council always elects from among its members a student council board, which handles and advances the affairs of the institution.
You can always turn to the student council’s board if you want to improve something in your own study environment.
You can find more information about student councils on the institutions’ websites
Contact
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