Skwarek, Benjamin

Introduction

Hi! I decided to run for the Youth Council because I want to build Helsinki to become a more functional, liberal and ecological city. The city should offer all its residents good and equal opportunities to fulfil themselves and realise their dreams. Young people’s opportunities for leading a good life and having a steady future must be secured. Culture and nature are close to my heart.
We are the young people, we are the future!

Hobbies: Art, photography, reflection

 

Answers to the election machine

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

Vegetarian food is more ecological and needs to be invested in. However, in some schools, vegetarian days have backfired by increasing food waste. I believe that more attention should be paid to the quality of vegetarian food, and it should be offered as an equal alternative to meat dishes on the menu.

 

Schools should focus on grouping more extensively than now.

Although my own school has done a good job with grouping, this is not the case everywhere. Grouping is key to improving wellbeing and preventing bullying, so it needs to be taken seriously and invested in.

 

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

Distance learning has its merits, but I think that its introduction should always be considered on a case-by-case basis. It could significantly expand the range of courses on offer, but it should be voluntary and schools should be able to decide for themselves. So distance learning should not be a default mode of teaching.

 

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

As far as I know, sports clubs already offer groups of different levels of competitiveness, ranging from demanding to relaxed. Many young people like the challenge, and I do not think it is really up to the City to decide. As a funder, the City can require sports clubs to invest in more relaxed groups and in maintaining a good spirit.

 

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

I partially agree. The City needs to offer work experience to those who do not have much of it, but the lack of work experience should not be the primary determining factor. The most important factor in decisions must be the young person’s suitability for the job. The current model is good, but a bit more emphasis could be put on the matter.

 

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

I think that gender-neutral toilets could be added during new building projects and renovations alongside the ‘normal’ ones, but I do not think it is practical to do away with gendered toilets. Unisex toilets would create longer queues, which would not be practical overall. Discrimination or abusive behaviour in toilets must not be tolerated.

 

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

This is a worthwhile idea. With the comprehensive school reform, public transport is already free of charge for a large proportion of pupils (many do not know this, or do not know how to apply for reimbursement), so switching to free public transport would make life easier for everyone and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy.

 

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

E-scooters cause dangerous situations in traffic, reduce accessibility and disturb the urban environment. The disadvantages clearly outweigh the benefits.

 

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

Compromises need to be made in politics, but they should not be the starting point. Excessive desire to compromise usually leads to bad decisions that do not really serve anyone. However, the pursuit of your own cause must not be an insurmountable obstacle to decision-making. People come to the council to decide on things.

 

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

Schools and education; Art and culture; Urban environment and transport

• We must invest in the functionality and ecology of the urban environment. We all live in the urban environment and our wellbeing depends on how comfortable it is.
• The City should give free rein and support all kinds of events, especially if the ideas come from young people.
• Investment in education always pays off. The scars left by COVID-19 need to be healed.