How to influence

Ways to influence

• You can write an opinion piece for a newspaper. The newspaper can be national, local, or even your school or neighbourhood’s publication. You can also write an opinion piece for social media or other digital publications.
• On social media: Like, share or comment. The easiest way to participate on social media is to like someone else’s post. If you want to give the issue more visibility, you can share it with friends or a group, adding your comments. Sharing can raise awareness of the issue or because it resonated with you. However, always remember to justify your viewpoint and check the facts.
• Highlight issues through social media. Consider beforehand how to present the issue constructively.
• Write a protest song or poem. If you wish, you can also publish it on social media or other media.
• You can participate in your school’s student council activities. Ask your teacher how you can get involved in your school’s activities.
• You can apply to join the youth council. In Oulu, all residents and students aged 14-19 can apply to join the youth council, which has a two-year term.
• You can vote in youth elections to elect your municipality’s youth council. In Oulu’s youth council elections, all residents and students aged 13-19 can vote.
• Many parishes have a youth influencer group that develops the parish’s activities.
• Influence can also come through civic activities in organisations and associations that interest you and align with your values.
• You can also influence through your hobby. Share your opinion and participate in your hobby’s activities, such as volunteering or attending meetings.
• Participate in local activities, such as resident evenings or other activities organised in your neighbourhood or district.
• Your choices as a consumer and boycotts are also ways to influence. Consider what, what kind, and where you buy goods, clothes, or services. A boycott means refusing to buy a specific product or use a particular service for ethical reasons.
• Participating in or organising a demonstration is a form of influence.
• You can try to influence decision-makers either directly by meeting them or by sending them an email. You can also follow their social media accounts and contact them that way.
• A petition is a document used to appeal to someone or a group.
• Voting in various elections. Often, voting requires being of legal age, such as in municipal or presidential elections. However, in youth elections, even those under 18 can vote.
• You can make an initiative. To make a regular municipal initiative, you must be a member of the municipality to which you are making the initiative. Also, those under 18 can make a municipal initiative. Additionally, other members of the municipality besides residents can make initiatives. Municipality members include not only residents but also those who control or own real estate in the municipality. Municipality members also include organisations, institutions, and foundations with their domicile in the municipality.

This list probably includes only some ways to influence. What else could be added here?

Feel free to suggest them to us through the Youth Oulu idea box.

 

District based youth participation groups

In all major areas of Oulu, there are participation groups for children and young people that ensure their voices are heard in local matters. The participation group includes representatives from local schools and youth centres.

Read more about district based participation groups.

Oulu Youth Council ONE

ONE is Oulu’s youth council, which aims to promote the well-being of all young people under 29 years old in municipal decision-making. The youth council operates without political or religious affiliations. The youth council members are elected in youth elections every two years.

Read more about Oulu Youth Council. (–> will be published later)

Oulu youth elections

The members of Oulu Youth Council ONE are elected in youth elections every two years.

Read more about youth elections.

Youth City Meeting

The Youth City Meeting brings together children and young people to decide on improvement and development proposals considered in schools, student councils, and participation groups. The City Assembly allocates a budget for the best ideas.

Read more about Youth City Meeting.

Youth Forum

The Youth Forum is aimed at lower secondary and older students. The event aims to bring together young people and stakeholders, such as organisations, political parties, various city departments, and those interested in young people’s opinions, to network and exchange ideas.

Read more about the Youth Forum.

Student council and student body forums

In student council forums, student council board advisors and students gather to hear from experts about what is currently happening in Oulu regarding children’s and youth participation. The forums are communicated through schools and educational institutions.

Participate and influence in the City of Oulu

The goal in Oulu is for everyone to feel heard and understood, with equal opportunities to act, participate, and influence in their neighbourhood and the entire city. As an adult, you can influence city matters by voting in municipal elections held every four years. Additionally, there are many other opportunities for participation and influence for both adults and those under 18.

Learn more about participation and influence opportunities in the City of Oulu (ouka.fi).

 

How to influence nationally

Finnish Youth Councils Association (Nuva ry)

The Finnish Youth Councils Association (Nuva ry) is an expert in youth participation, promoting youth influence opportunities and agency in society. Nuva ry works for the benefit of young people by advocating for their interests in decision-making and training young influencers. Their work is guided by the core value of youth’s ability to act and influence society. Therefore, the association is led by a board of young members.

Read more about the Finnish Youth Councils Association (nuva.fi).

Youth Parliament

The Youth Parliament is intended for all upper secondary school students. Participation is primarily through a school club, student council, or other adult-supervised group.

Read more about the Youth Parliament – in Finnish (eduskunta.fi).

Online initiative services and channels for influence

Democracy.fi

The Democracy.fi website provides up-to-date information on local, national, and European Union decision-making processes. Follow the preparation and make your voice heard! Find your channels for influence. Democracy.fi is an online service provided by the Ministry of Justice.

Democracy.fi

Digiraati

Digiraati is an online platform where you can participate in discussions on various current topics. The purpose of the service is to offer all young people under 29 an equal opportunity to voice their opinions on societal issues. In Digiraati, participants discuss a pre-agreed topic for 2-3 weeks. The discussion is conducted in writing, using pseudonyms, on the service’s own, closed discussion board. Digiraati is an online service provided by the Ministry of Justice.

Digiraati.fi (In Finnish)

Kuntalaisaloite.fi

On the Kuntalaisaloite.fi platform, you can make municipal initiatives to participating municipalities and support and follow other initiatives. Oulu is one of the participating municipalities. To make a regular municipal initiative, you must be a member of the municipality to which you are making the initiative. Initiative rights are not tied to voting rights in municipal elections. Those under 18 can also make municipal initiatives.

Kuntalaisaloite.fi (In Finnish)

Kansalaisaloite.fi

An eligible Finnish citizen can make a citizens’ initiative. A citizens’ initiative is a direct way for Finnish citizens to influence legislation. Citizens have the right to influence law drafting and be heard. With a citizens’ initiative, you can propose a new law, an amendment to an existing law, or the repeal of an existing law. The citizens’ initiative proceeds to Parliament if it has gathered at least 50,000 declarations of support within six months of the initiative being registered on the kansalaisaloite.fi service.

kansalaisaloite.fi (In Finnish)

Otakantaa.fi

Otakantaa.fi is an online service that enhances dialogue and participation between citizens, organisations and authorities. The service facilitates citizen influence and access to information, increases the transparency of decision-making processes and improves the quality of decisions.

otakantaa.fi (In Finnish)

Lausuntopalvelu.fi

Lausuntopalvelu.fi provides the opportunity to request and give opinions electronically. All public administration authorities can publish requests for opinions on the service. All organisations and citizens can give their opinions.

lausuntopalvelu.fi (In Finnish)

Vaalit.fi

The Vaalit.fi website offers extensive general information about elections, voting and political parties.

vaalit.fi 

European citizens’ initiative

With the European citizens’ initiative, ordinary people can ask the European Commission to propose legislation on matters they care about. It is an opportunity to directly influence EU actions and policies. When an initiative gathers at least one million signatures, the Commission considers it.

Read more about the European citizens’ initiative

Petition to the European Parliament

A petition to the European Parliament is a fundamental right of European Union citizens. According to Article 227 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, every citizen has the right to submit a petition to the European Parliament individually or together with others.

Read more about Petition to the European Parliament