My roles in different levels of government and decision-making have given me insight to how change can be created in the grassroots levels. The European Youth Forum needs to be a platform that represents all young people in all corners and levels of Europe – from a child in an elementary school learning her ABC’s to a university student searching for a job. These young people need someone to fight for their rights and for their future: for their right to be heard, their opportunities to create change and their ability to dream.
An especially valuable lesson that these roles have given me, is the meaning of mandated, resourced and powerful participatory structures and bodies. Local and regional youth councils are mandated by law in Finland: they have to exist in every municipality and region and they have to have resources and real influence. Most of them have seats at city councils and the right to propose motions like we had: for example, we established mock elections and better recycling opportunities to all city schools.
And I want this to be the reality for all children and young people everywhere – true and meaningful ways to bring change from a young age.
1 LOCAL AND REGIONAL ADVOCACY – 9+ years
CHILDREN’S PARLIAMENT OF TAMPERE
president 2014-2015, vice president 2015-2018
- representing the children of the city, organizing events
YOUTH COUNCIL OF TAMPERE
member 2019, secretary 2020,
1. vice president 2021-2022
- leading the advocacy work: motions, opinion pieces, coordinating youth council representatives in city committees
- a youth representative in the city council and in the city education & culture committee
YOUTH COUNCIL OF THE TAMPERE REGION – 4 years
member 2019-2022, president 9/2021-2022
- Advocacy especially on mental health and mandatory mental health checks in schools from regional to ministerial levels
- The first ever chairman of the Youth Council of the Tampere region, coordinating, establishing, developing and transferring the youth council’s activities under the new welfare area
THE CITY COUNCIL OF TAMPERE
a deputy councilor and member of the educational committee 6/2025-
2 THE UNION OF THE LOCAL YOUTH COUNCILS IN FINLAND – 4 years
BOARD OF THE TAMPERE REGION SECTION
secretary 2020, event coordinator 2021
NATIONAL BOARD
member 2022, 1. vice president 2023
- As an event manager in the Tampere region section, I organized an overnight event for youth councilors of the Tampere region with a 0-budget
- In the national board: board member responsible for membership support for the year 2022 and 1. vice chairman of the organizational sector for 2023. International external representations both years.
3 THE FINNISH NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL AND YOUTH SECTOR – FYCS (FORMER ALLIANSSI) – 3+ years
THE FINNISH EU YOUTH SUMMIT
co-chair of the climate group 2020
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
chair 2023, member 2024, vice chair 2025, candidate for YFJ board 2026
THE YOUTH, PEACE AND SECURITY NETWORK secretary 2024
During my years at FYCS/Allianssi I have worked extensively on international affairs and on themes such as youth participation, security, peace, climate and human rights. Most importantly, I have had a leading role in the international work of the organization for over 3 years, gaining expertise especially on YFJ and the EU Youth Dialogue.
For my 3 years at the National Youth Council, I have been in charge of FYCS’s advocacy efforts and work within the YFJ and the NBEC (former NBC). In this role I have co-signed multiple motions and successfully submitted and coordinated one ourselves (There is no sustainable peace without youth – including youth in peacebuilding and protecting young advocates) and attended countless of international conferences, such as EU Youth Conferences, Council of Europe’s youth events and YFJ General Assemblies, built wide networks across the two pillars of the YFJ. I am highly motivated to continue working for and in the YFJ – not just because I am passionate to work for youth rights but because I am fighting for and with a community I love. Because when I left the organisation that I had grown up with, I thought I’d never feel the sense of home again that I felt when I entered a youth organisation for the first time – until I came to the YFJ. The YFJ has become my home and safe haven, the place I look forward to returning to keep going everywhere else. And as a board member, I hope I could be a safe harbor for you too.
4 THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE – 2 years
YOUTH DELEGATE OF FINLAND TO THE CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES 2024
- Chosen by the Council of Europe as the Finnish Youth Representative for the 46th and 47th sessions of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
- I wrote, gave speeches and influenced the decision-making during the sessions to better the work of the Congress
- During the year I implemented my own regional project in Finland: a survey for the Tampere region on inclusion and polarization and organized a discussion event around the topic and on the results of the survey
YOUTH DELEGATE OF FINLAND TO THE YOUTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 2025
- I shared the speaking time of Finland with the Minister of Youth, Sports and Physical Activity, Mika Poutala, at the 10th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth. I highlighted the need for inclusion of young people and children from an early age and shared my story of starting advocacy since the age of 9
- I participated in the youth event alongside the conference, where we influenced and discussed the contents of the “New Democratic Pact” with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Can you feel the energy of 10-year-old activist Maria? 😍