Children are entitled to special care, support, and protection to grow to their full potential. This is the responsibility and duty of adults.

The municipality of Janakkala began applying for UNICEF’s Child-friendly Municipality recognition in March 2020 with a very ambitious action plan, and in November 2023, Janakkala received the Child-friendly Municipality recognition!

The work of the Child-friendly Municipality is guided by the municipal Board of Directors. The practical work is advanced by the LYK coordination group.

The goals of the first action period were achieved well, and a new action plan period has begun on January 1, 2025.

Goals are selected in collaboration with UNICEF from various indicators that are at a weaker level in the municipality. Indicator data is obtained from school health surveys and the municipality’s own assessments.

The first goal is to pay attention to children and young people at risk of social exclusion. For this goal, data will be collected and the well-being of different population groups will be monitored. Positive special treatment, i.e., funding for enhancing the well-being of disadvantaged children and youth groups, will be implemented. Preventing discrimination is part of the municipality’s operational equality plan, which will also be completed during 2025.

The second goal is to improve the participation of children and young people. The role and impact of the municipal Youth Council will be improved, and cooperation will be developed. Children and young people will be involved in the development of municipal activities, and in 2025, children and young people will participate in municipal strategy work, among other things.

The third goal is to implement the assessment of child impacts in all decisions affecting children and young people. In the municipality of Janakkala, there are guidelines for assessing prior impacts, and the assessment of child impacts is a part of it. All preparers and decision-makers will be trained to recognize children’s rights.

The fourth goal is a broad aim to promote the mental well-being of children and young people. Together with other Kanta-Häme LYK municipalities, a mental well-being path will be implemented, which helps to prevent issues and support children, young people, and their families as early as possible. Measures will also include training for those working with children and young people, such as identifying and preventing sexual violence, supporting mental well-being, etc. Schools and classes can also take small climate actions. Children’s and young people’s eating habits were also highlighted in school health surveys. A large portion of children and young people skips breakfast, and many also miss school meals. Measures will be implemented around this theme in schools, and information about healthy nutrition will be directed to parents and homes.

The fifth goal is a youth-led goal: safe leisure activities. This goal is important because every young person has the right to safe leisure time. Young people will be able to plan and implement leisure activities and events themselves, and it is hoped that these will become permanent practices in the municipality. It is the adults’ duty to ensure the safety of children’s and young people’s leisure activities.

A lot has been achieved along the way, but the work for child-friendliness is continuous, and all of us in Janakkala want to be committed to it!

More Information

• Basic information about the model in a PowerPoint presentation (in Finnish)
• Children’s rights in a nutshell (in Finnish)
• Child-friendly municipality website (in Finnish)

‘In the video, children tell what well-being means to them

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