Valo-Valmennusyhdistys ry

Our organization carries out educational, rehabilitational, participational and leisure time activities for youth and young adults in various life situations and conditions. Depending on their needs and personal aims we create opportunities for vulnerable or marginalized people to integrate into society, build up their self knowledge and skills towards independent, full life, and be active members of the community. During activities, we also seek to learn together social, entrepreneurial, and work-related skills which help them easily integrate into the educational world and/or labor market, and increase knowledge on social entrepreneurship and self-employment. The organization provides youth work, educational, working life and social services and training for more than 2 000 young people per year directly. Every year we work together with over 15 000 young people all over Finland. We have strong local, national and international network of organisations working together for youth participation. We also work closely together with many stakeholders relevant to young people such as municipalities, educational institutes, universities, ministries and policy makers. We are also part of the national Expertise Centre for Social Economy (www.yyo.fi).