The Finnish Youth Centre Association - A communal forum for youth centres in Finland
The Finnish Youth Centre Association is a nationwide organization promoting youth centres in Finland, the central objective of which is to develop the operational preconditions of youth centres throughout the country. As so entrusted by the Youth Centres, the Association represents the interests of the Centres in active cooperation with youth and children's interest groups, educational institutions and financers and works to inform the public about the latest advances in the field of youth work and the development needs such entailed.
The senior governing body of the Association gathers one a year at the
Annual Meeting of the Finnish Youth Centre representatives. Important
decisions are made at the Association's board meetings and the Annual
Meeting. Financing is comprised of the income generated by Youth Centre
operations, Ministry of Education and Culture funds, and the member and
marketing fees paid by the Centres. The Finnish Ministry of Education
and Culture oversees Association operations in annual performance
management consultations.
The Finnish Youth Centre Association has been in operation since 1993
and became a registered organization in 2000. The Association's main
office is located on the island of Suomenlinna in Helsinki, where the
association also runs Hostel Suomenlinna.
National centre for the development of youth services
Finland's Ministry of Education and Culture has named the Finnish Young Centre Association the official national centre for the development of youth services. The most important areas designated for development include the expansion of participatory education in youth education camps, environmental and adventure education and youth activities emphasizing social empowerment.
