Helsto, Luka

Introduction

My name is Luka Helsto, I’m a 13-year-old upper comprehensive school pupil from Maunula, Helsinki. I’m an active member of Youth Climate Movement and I have experience in organising climate strikes, among other things. I want to promote young people’s influencing opportunities and be involved in developing the ENTIRE Helsinki to become a functional and equal city.

My hobby is scouting, and I take a lot of interest in what goes on in the world and in society.

Maunulan Yhteiskoulu

Answers to the election machine

Schools should have more days during which they only serve vegetarian food.

Increasing the number of vegetarian days at school is important both for climate and environmental reasons.

 

Schools should focus on grouping more extensively than now.

Schools should focus more on grouping, so that class spirit can be improved and everyone can feel comfortable and safe at school.

 

Distance learning needs to be established as a permanent learning method in addition to contact teaching.

Distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was a rough experience for many young people, as support from teachers was not as readily available, for example. During the full-time distance learning, pupils’ learning differences grew and many fell behind in teaching. I don’t think distance learning should become a permanent method, but it could be utilised in individual situations.

 

The competitiveness of young people’s sports activities should be reduced.

Hobbies should be safe and fun for young people. I think excessive and full-time competitiveness does not promote the community spirit and sense of safety at hobby groups.

 

The City of Helsinki should primarily offer summer jobs to those young people who do not yet have work experience.

The City should guarantee all young people the chance to work in a summer job, as this is valuable experience when the young person starts their career.

 

The public spaces in Helsinki should maintain the division between women’s and men’s toilets.

Through the Youth Council, I plan to promote increasing the number of gender-neutral toilets in the city, but it is important to listen to the opinions of young people in this, too, and to make decisions based on that.

 

Helsinki should start offering free public transport to those under 18.

I believe that public transport should be free for everyone, but at the very least to young people. Helsinki should be developed in a climate and eco-friendly direction so that pedestrians, cyclists and public transport are put before private cars. Instead of wasting more than a billion euros on a central tunnel increasing private car traffic, the City should increase the funding for public transport.

 

It would be better if there were no e-scooters in Helsinki.

I wouldn’t prohibit e-scooters, but I support stricter speed limits and other regulations for them to help avoid accidents.

 

For a member of the Youth Council, pushing their own goals through is a more important quality than agreeing on compromises.

Elected Youth Council members must promote the best interests of young people and the themes that are important to them and their voters. Youth Council members must also be able to compromise, and I believe that this way they can also promote their own goals.

 

On which topics would you like the Youth Council to focus, in particular? Select the three that are the most important to you.

Climate change and nature conservation; Schools and education; Urban environment and transport

The climate crisis is the biggest threat of modern times that will have a dramatic effect on young people’s lives unless we act NOW! The Youth Council must actively take part in making Helsinki a carbon-neutral city. The City must invest in education, and budget cuts to basic services’ funding cannot be allowed. Youth services, education, mental health services, public transport and the environment must all be placed before tax cuts and car tunnels.