Hobbies and investments in education are important for supporting rural young people

Taneli, who grew up in Kontiolahti, found his field of studies after a few false starts through folk dancing. He also found his way to the Finnish Youth Association's project team and became a candidate in the municipal elections. While he is sometimes concerned over young people’s opportunities in rural areas, Taneli nevertheless trusts the vitality of the countryside.

The Finnish Youth Association helped Taneli grow into an influencer and inspired him in selecting his field of study

In a sense, Taneli’s road from Kontiolahti to participation was paved at the age of three.

“The back story is quite funny. My parents met in a dance group for young people in Savo. They also wanted us to try dancing. I have been doing folk dancing in Motora, a youth association in Joensuu, since I was three. This sparked my personal interest in youth association activities.”

What Taneli finds the best is belonging to a great dance group that has remained the same for as many as six years. The group has also gradually led him to many types of meaningful activities. First of all, Motora trains instructors, which is why Taneli also ended up leading younger people’s groups. This, in turn, helped clarify his plans for the future.

“I'm studying for a qualification as a youth and community instructor for the second year. I guess it was Motora that got me interested in this instruction thing, to the point where I wanted to do it as a job.”

When you participate and do things together, you feel a part of something bigger.

Soon enough Taneli found himself in the core team of the Finnish Youth Association’s Young influencers project.

“I had been interested in the Finnish Youth Association as a national organisation for a long time. I have also always wanted to influence things, so I figured, what could be a better way of exerting influence than through something that is close to my heart. The project has coached us in exerting influence, but at the same time we get to bring up issues ourselves.”

Based on talking to young people, Taneli believes that their willingness to participate is on the rise: young people have opinions and even solutions to bigger problems, as long as they have the courage to come out with them. However, Taneli needs to reflect for a moment when asked where his own desire to exert influence actually stems from.

“Perhaps it makes you feel a part of something bigger when you exert influence and do things together. When we talk about things in our groups and then are told that the Finnish Youth Association’s Board has discussed them, it’s a really great feeling. We have been given power, and they really listen to us.”

Finally, Taneli would like to add one more thing.

“The Young influencers project also gave me the courage to go for municipal politics! I am now a candidate in the next municipal elections.”

Rural young people deserve their share of the budget

The European Youth Goal number six is Moving rural youth forward. In other words, it aims for safeguarding their equal opportunities with young people in the cities.

“That goal sounds insanely fantastic. As I have lived in Kontiolahti, I have not exactly had the same opportunities as those who live in Joensuu, for example. We have two youth clubs in Kontiolahti, but there are more in Joensuu, even in smaller areas. The amount of money the municipality budgets in youth work is also not the same.

In the Finnish Youth Association, Taneli is hoping to influence recreational and low-threshold activities, including ‘relaxed exercise’ open to everyone. From the point of view of equal opportunities, Taneli is concerned over not only the availability of hobbies but also about education and the provision of public transport in rural areas.

“I’ve actually been thinking about this a good bit. I live in student housing at the moment myself, and I think this really tells us something. The opportunities are not quite the same. I know some people whose parents would not let them live in the dorms. Or if there is a certain choice you would like to take in general upper secondary school but it’s not available around here – well, tough luck. I would like to see better public transport, for example between the small villages and larger cities, so that young people could go to school without having to move into a dorm or other major hassle.

Despite everything, Taneli sees a bright future with vibrant villages for young people in rural areas, at least in Kontiolahti.

"What gives me loads of hope is that the rural villages of Kontiolahti have really proud people. There is a real sense of community and people feel good – that’s what gives me hope.” 

Updated on otrdiena, 17/02/2026