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There are many exercise opportunities for children and teenagers in Turku.
- The Sports Wonderlands for Kids are meant for families with children. Children aged 1–12 can visit the Wonderlands in the company of an adult. The Wonderlands are free of charge.
- The ‘Mihi’ classes offer 13–19-year-olds opportunities for exercising. These classes are also free of charge.
- Sports clubs offer many sports activities for children and teenagers at reasonable prices.
On schooldays the student gets a warm meal between 10.00 and 12.00. The meal covers approximately one third of a person’s daily food requirements.
Kaarea Oy sells snacks in secondary schools and in upper secondary schools when it is allowed. List of schools and information about snacks and payment options are available in Finnish.
A student will be offered a special diet if the reason is medical, religious or ethical.
Hey you 15-29-year-old youth or young adult!
You can come and chat with the outreach youth workers over a cup of coffee, for instance. You can talk about anything that puzzles you. Our activities are voluntary and confidential.
Contact us if…
…your plans for the future are unclear…you do not have a job or a study place…you are lonely and want something to do…filling official forms feels difficult…you just want to chat or you would like to get support in a life situation that feels difficult.
There is one upper secondary school in Turku where education is given in Swedish: Katedralskolan i Åbo.
The Swedish Language Section of Education Committee is responsible for Swedish language services. The Swedish language services are directed by Liliane Kjellman.
Hey you under 29-year-old! Would you like to try out various crafts, or do you need something to do during the day?
In the youth workshops you can try the work of:
- a furniture maker
- a painter
- a metal workshop worker
- a real estate manager
- a repairer
- a textile or craft worker
While working, you can discuss solutions to everyday challenges with the youth workers and career planners.
Contact us and come check out the youth workshops of Fendari. Here you can see real examples of handiworks!
VALMO is meant for students whose native languages are not Finnish or Swedish and prepares them for basic education. The students learn Finnish and other skills for approximately a year before transferring to local schools.
Students whose native languages are not Finnish or Swedish can choose between Finnish as a Second Language and Literature or Swedish as Second Language and Literature (S2).
OMO is education given in students’ native languages.
NuortenTurku is an information and guidance service for those under the age of 29. You can get guidance and support from us in matters such as searching for a job or filling in various forms.
In NuortenTurku you can search for information by yourself or with help from an employee. During opening hours you can visit either with or without an appointment. You can also send your questions via email, Facebook, WhatsApp, or call us by phone.
In Turku, you can attend upper secondary school either in Finnish-speaking day upper secondary schools or in the Evening High School of Turku. Swedish-speaking upper secondary school education is offered by the school Katedralskolan i Åbo and English-speaking education by Turku International School.
In addition to these schools owned by the City of Turku, upper secondary school education is also offered by the Teacher Training School of Turku University and by Turku Steiner School.
Youth centres are spaces for children and teens with activities geared towards 9–18-year-olds. In these centres you can meet other young people, play games and take part in shared activities. You can also pursue your own ideas. Alcohol or drugs are not allowed at youth centres. The centres are supervised by trained youth workers.
In order to participate in the activities you will need a youth card. The card is free of charge and you can get one from any youth centre.
Parents always have the responsibility to teach their child to move safely in traffic. The way to school should be acquainted together with the child well beforehand.
School transportation is primarily provided with the City's public transportation bus card. The card can be loaded at the Public Transportation Service Office, Aurakatu 5.
Turku has four campgrounds for youth: Ahtela in Sauvo, Tippsund in Taivassalo, Vienola in Rymättylä and Nukkumajoki in Inari.
Affordable areas with cabins, available for rent for:
- youth organizations
- associations
- private persons
- companies
- trip and camp activities of the city
The campgrounds are ideal for larger groups and events, but they are also suited for small groups. The campgrounds can also be rented just for day use.
Turku Vocational Institute prepares students for careers in 40 different professions. We offer vocational education to students of all ages. With us, you can pursue a basic vocational degree, a vocational qualification or a specialist vocational qualification.
Vocational education is a gateway into both a professional career and further studies. Our education is meant for anyone willing to pursue a vocational degree, further their expertise or career, change fields or find a job. Due to the continuous application period, you can apply throughout the year.
The Evening High School of Turku (Turun iltalukio) is an upper secondary education school meant for adults where it is possible to finish basic education studies, get the general upper secondary education certificate, pass the Finnish Matriculation Examination or to study single subjects (e.g. languages).
Study options:
The third element of the City of Turku’s sports grant system reform is the new support for competence and development targeted at sports clubs, which aims to ensure high-quality coaching in all sports clubs and associations in Turku.
The City of Turku is reforming grants related to sports and the pricing of the use of sports facilities. The reforms will be introduced in 2025. The aim is to promote the well-being of children and young people through physical activities, to support hobbyists of different sports more equally than at present and to control the increase in the costs of hobbies.
From 2025 onwards, Turku is the first in Finland to introduce a sports grant for children and young people: Each year, the City of Turku gives all Turku residents aged 7–19 years a voucher for the fees of regular, guided sports hobby activities organised by sports clubs and associations in Turku!
Welcome to the study program of the Turku Vocational Institute (TAI).
At TAI, we offer two training programs and basic vocational qualifications in English:
• Basic Vocational Qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services
• Basic Vocational Qualification in Cleaning and Property Services
We have an individualized learning path for every single student. The learning paths are based on the student's skills, characteristics as well as earlier know-how and studies.
The aim of the Turku model for leisure activities is to enable every child and young person attending comprehensive school in Turku to have a free, meaningful hobby in connection with the school day. The Turku model for leisure activities is part of The Finnish model for leisure activities of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Hobbies for the academic year 2023–2024
In autumn 2023, Turku launched more than 120 free hobby groups. The hobbies have been selected based on surveys conducted for children and young people.
The outreach activities are intended for pupils in the partner schools who have not yet found their favourite leisure activities. The school's own contact person for outreach activities helps and advises children in finding a meaningful hobby. The activity is part of the Turku Model for leisure activities.
In the academic year 2023-2024, outreach activities are carried out in a total of 31 schools.
Free hobbies and clubs in Turku comprehensive schools and their neighbouring areas have been put together in school-specific hobby schedules.
School clubs are mainly intended for pupils of the school in question and are free of charge, unless otherwise stated. Changes are possible. Most of the schedules are only available in Finnish and Swedish.
The competition jury consists of representatives of higher education institutions, City of Turku, Bayer and other partners. The chair of the jury is Senior Executive at TechCampus Turku and Vice Rector of the University of Turku Mika Hannula.
Jury
Vice Rector Mika Hannula (University of Turku, TechCampus Turku, chair)
Head of R&D, Drug Delivery Innovation Finland Manja Ahola (Bayer Oy)
Professor Patrik Henelius (Åbo Akademi)
Dean Juha Kontio (Turku University of Applied Sciences)
Courses in Spring 2024
Brush glazing
It's time to try something new! We have new brush glaziers, which you can try out at our brush glazing nights. During the workshop, the old familiar immersion glazes will also be available for your use.
During the brush glazing sessions, you can glaze work done in the open workshop. The work must be raw fired, so it must be done at least three weeks in advance.
Präkäämö and Clay Präkäämö
Präkäämö on Thursdays 14-18
Clay Präkäämö on Thursdays 14-16