We received good news in December when the Ministry for Foreign Affairs granted funding for Taksvärkki’s new development cooperation programme for 2026–2029. In addition, funding from the Erasmus+ programme was secured for a new two-year youth participation project.
We promote just and sustainable societies
Taksvärkki ry’s development cooperation programme for 2026–2029, Steps of Youth Participation Towards Sustainable Futures, focuses on strengthening the active citizenship and participation of youth in accordance with our “from youth to youth” principle. The programme aims to promote just and sustainable societies where youth can live free from discrimination and grow into responsible citizens.
Another objective is to strengthen the knowledge and agency of responsible adults so that the rights and meaningful participation of youth in communities are realized. At the same time, the capacity of civil society to support this development is strengthened.
During the 2026–2029 programme period, development cooperation projects will continue in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Guatemala, and Nepal with local civil society organizations engaged in rights-based youth work.
The programme reaches thousands of youths
Each year, more than 2,700 youth in vulnerable situations are actively involved in youth groups supported by the programme. Through peer education, events, and campaigns, development cooperation reaches approximately 26,000 children and youth annually, including young women and girls in rural areas, youth with disabilities, and youth living and working on the streets.
In Finland, the programme supports youth’s growth as active global citizens. Key actors include youth in upper secondary schools and secondary education institutions, educators working with youth, and young adults serving as volunteers. Each year, up to 15,000 youth and 1,000 educators in Finland participate in global education workshops, training sessions, partner school collaborations, and the hands-on Taksvärkki Campaign.
A new feature of the programme is a stronger link between development cooperation and global education, as well as the sharing of best practices with all partners. In addition, corporate partnerships will continue in a new project supporting inclusive education and youth work.
We have published the development cooperation programme in English on Taksvärkki’s website. The document is also available in Finnish on the documents page (in Finnish).
Youth group implements project in Finland
In the beginning of the year 2026 we have also seen the launch of a new project, Hope Gives Wings (Toivo antaa siivet in Finnish), planned and implemented by Taksvärkki’s youth group. In December 2025, the project received approximately 60,000 euros in funding from the EU’s Erasmus+ programme for the next two years. In the project we explore themes that cause hopelessness among young people and work together to find ways to influence these issues while strengthening the sense of hope of youth.
The project will increase knowledge and skills of youth regarding advocacy and provide practical training in advocacy. At the same time, youth will be encouraged to imagine different futures and take action on issues that matter to them. Over the course of two years, youth will meet each other and experts at weekend camps, at events they themselves have planned, and also remotely, so anyone from anywhere in Finland can participate.
Photo: Members of youth groups at a mental well-being workshop in Makanjira, Malawi, in October 2024. Harison Nkhoma.