The Finnish Children and Youth Foundation

The Finnish Children and Youth Foundation (FCYF) is committed to improving the lives young people. FCYF implements and promotes programmes which support the welbeing of young people in Finland and abroad. FCYF was founded in 2001.

FCYF's mission is to ensure and promote positive development in the lives of children and youth; to take preventive action and to encourage companies to consider their corporate social responsibility to children's and young people's potentials.

Member of the International Youth Foundation

FCYF is a registered, independent organization which operates under Finnish law. Internationally, FCYF is a partner of the International Youth Foundation's (IYF) Global Partner Network and The European Children and Youth Foundations Network (ECYN).

Activities in Finland

Corporate Social Responsibility programmes are one of FCYF's major activities in Finland. The programmes and other projects advanced by FCYF promote integration, tolerance, diversity and employability. Nokia, Fortum, Manpower, Deloitte, Elcoteq, Pfizer, Veritas, Metso, UPM-Kymmene, TVO and Wärtsilä are companies FCYF works or has been working with in Finland and adjoining regions. In addition to its regular grant funding, FCYF administers its own programmes:

Zest - The Life Skills Programme in Finland

"Zest, Make a Connection Life Skills" programme, has recruited eight prominent Finnish personalities to visit 7th through 9th graders in schools around the country, talking with them about self-confidence, talents and life skills. "Zest" has benefited over 360 000 students to date.

Another target group, besides the young, is teachers and other educational specialists who work with young people. Our experts and team members have presented the Zest programme at different events and during the 11 years. Zest has also produced teaching material for teachers to support the school visits. The material helps to deepen the contents of Zest.

From autumn 2011 Zest has focused on organizing workshops to 10^th graders and pupils studying in preparatory classes for vocational education. The visits consist of Zest lecture and a 2-hour drama workshop. The aim of the activity is to encourage the pupils to find and improve their own talents, to strengthen their self-esteem and give them experiences of success.

There is a demand for this kind of support and activity for youth in Finnish school system and society. The feedback of the workshops has been very positive and encouraging. This is the reason why The Finnish Children and Youth Foundation is focusing on this target group even more in the future. In the autumn 2013 a new program “Skills to Life” will be launched. 

Myrsky - A programme for cultural youth work

Myrsky ("Storm" in Finnish) aims to prevent social exclusion of young people through arts education. The project supports art projects carried out by young people, guided by professional artists through funding, networks and training.

You can find more information about Myrsky here. kuva

International activities - International Programme

You can find information about our international activities here.