Cosmos Juniors, Espoo
Cosmos Juniors was founded in 1996 in Espoo, Finland, as a cultural and leisure organization with a mission to provide low-threshold, inclusive opportunities for a growing and diverse population. They aimed to bridge gaps between different communities and promote social cohesion. Besides Finnish, the organization operates in several languages including Swedish, English, German, and approximately 30 other languages, reflecting the diversity of the population they serve.
The organization offers a wide range of activities, such as workshops for schools and youth centers, family-friendly events, picnics, round tables, seminars, and activities related to sports, culture, and social inclusion. In the sports sector, they provide group activities such as football, floorball, frisbee golf, volleyball, basketball, Tai Chi, sepak takraw, badminton, and traditional Finnish sports like Mölkky. The underlying principle is to promote social cohesion and ensure equal opportunities for participation while encouraging a healthy and positive lifestyle.
Cosmos Juniors has earned recognition for its impactful work, having been honored with the 'Best National Tolerance Project' award by the Finnish Sports Federation and the Finnish Ministry of Education in both 1998 and 2001. In 2004, the organization was awarded the 'Learning City Award' by the City of Espoo.
Beyond these activities, Cosmos Juniors extends its impact through camps, creative workshops, seminars, and events addressing critical issues like alcohol, drugs, bullying, and violence.
One of the notable achievements of Cosmos Juniors is the development of a comprehensive concept tailored for marginalised youth. This concept provides a safe space for recreation, a support network, and guidance for life management. The effectiveness of this model has been tested and shared with stakeholders across the country.
This concept revolves around the activities maintained by local organizations in immigrant-dominant urban areas. These areas also grapple with socio-economic challenges, often leading to the social exclusion of the native population.
Cosmos Juniors builds networks among various youth organizations, facilitating improved access for young people with immigrant backgrounds to existing recreational, social, and educational services. The initiative supports young people's organizations and other entities in organizing peer-based services, where older youth mentor their younger counterparts. This diversifies the types of youth activities and broadens their reach, addressing various challenges such as racism, unemployment, or education enrollment. There is a particular emphasis on promoting healthy lifestyles and early intervention in substance abuse issues.
The model is based on collaboration among actors from different sectors, with the primary goals of providing positive leisure opportunities for children and youth, offering social support for diverse challenges, building bridges between resident groups, developing networks among local organizations, and providing educational opportunities.
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