Kutvonen, Mitro

Introduction

I’m a young person from Helsinki who is interested in politics and influencing. I want to be the voice of all young people in Helsinki and make sure that nobody is left behind.

Issues that are close to my heart and the ones I would like to influence the most include mental health services for young people, employment, education and, most importantly, opportunities for young people to make a difference.

I believe that today’s young Helsinki residents are the key influencers of the future. Let’s work together to make Helsinki a better city!

Hobbies: Scouting and parkour

Kallion Lukio

 

Answers to the election machine

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

Although I think that it is a good idea to increase the number of vegetarian days by one, for example, I believe that the quality of food is a more important problem. Quality is more important than quantity. I think that if the City of Helsinki focused on the quality of vegetarian food so that it was on par with the other food offered, not many people would complain even if vegetarian food was offered on most days.

 

Schools should focus on grouping more extensively than now.

Group cohesion is very important at schools. Schools should focus more on group cohesion. Group cohesion reduces bullying and improves team spirit. Group cohesion contributes to wellbeing at school, and it should be focused on.

 

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

I do not think that distance learning should be established as a permanent teaching method alongside contact teaching. In comprehensive schools in particular, the downsides of distance learning far outnumber the benefits. Distance learning should be left in the past.

 

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

The competitiveness of young people’s sports activities should neither be reduced nor increased. At present, competition is at a good level: those who want to compete can do so, while those who do not want to compete do not have to. Competition motivates many children and young people and drives them to be more physically active.

 

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

The City should have a quota for first-timers when it comes to summer jobs. This would ensure equal treatment and allow young people to gain work experience without discriminating against experienced workers.

 

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

I do not see a good reason for why the division based on gender should be retained. Many general upper secondary schools already have unisex toilets, and there has been no issue with them. The gender division in toilets is unnecessary, and the notion that it is necessary is outdated.

 

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

Free public transport for minors should be implemented in Helsinki. Many young residents of Helsinki already use public transport for free through their school. We could expand this benefit to offer free public transport to every young person who wants it.

 

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

Helsinki would be a much safer place without e-scooters. Public e-scooter companies in particular cause many unnecessary accidents in Helsinki. E-scooters cause unnecessary work for health centres and hospitals and put many young people’s lives at risk. Helsinki would be a better place without e-scooters.

 

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

I believe that all Youth Council members must be able to make compromises. It is not possible for them to push their own goals without making compromises, and it its very important for the members to be able to make compromises with each other.

 

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

Young people’s influencing opportunities; Schools and education; Healthcare and mental health

Young people’s mental health is a priority for me. Another important matter is ensuring the quality of education and teaching.

However, I think that the most important thing is for all young people to be able to influence decision-making. Young people are the future, and if decision-makers neither listen to them nor allow young people to influence matters, things will not end well.

Young people are the future.