Nuorten Kotkain Keskusliitto

Nuoret Kotkat Now
Nuoret Kotkat is a children’s and youth organization
aimed at providing both activities for children as well as
representing them in political discussion as a special
interest group. Our activities are based on social
democratic values such as equality, democracy,
internationality, fairness, solidarity and working together.

Learning by Doing Together
Our goal is to teach children and youth to take others into
consideration. Nuoret Kotkat offers children the opportunity to work
and play with other children under the guidance of safe adults.
Clubs, camps, trips and other events offer interesting activities and
growing experiences, not to mention the friendships that are created
there. All activity is decided by the adults and children together.

OUR VALUES
Provide Safe Recreational Activities for Children
Nuoret Kotkat offers a safe and drug-free environment for the childrens’
free time. The instructors are mainly youth and adult volunteers. That is
why the activities are mainly during the evenings, weekends and school
holidays. The instructors have a genuine interest and often a long-time
experience in working with children. Constant training further increases
their skills and know-how.

Children are Listened to
Children need to experience possibilities for influence throughout their
childhood. One of the basic ideals of our future society has to be the
involvement of children. The most important places to carry out this are
a child’s home, their day-care, school and their hobby. The crucial factor
is how parents, teachers, authorities and politicians see children and
their opinions. Children need to experience that they are being heard
and that their opinion matters. That is why the instructors plan and
carry out our activities together with the children.

Stronger Childhood
Childhood in Finland has become five years shorter in the last 50 years.
The modern parenting methods favor independence from the parents
as early as possible. Especially the girls are under pressure on how they
look, dress and act far too early. Nuoret Kotkat wants to defend a child’s
right to childhood and youth. Things that belong to adulthood – like the
right to vote in municipal elections – must not be moved to a younger
age. This links back to listening to the children: letting children
participate also strengthens the appreciation of children and childhood.

Active Citizens
Children participating in our activities learn the skills active citizens,
such as interaction, critical thought, empathy and influencing.
These make children more likely to become active in the society.

Friendship over Borders
By taking part in our work, children, youth and adults learn to meet new
cultures and people both at home and abroad. Camps and other events
around the world help make friends over border lines and give practice
to language and international skills. Nuoret Kotkat is working to help
immigrants integrate into Finnish society. All activities, trainings and
communications aim to promote tolerance of different people.

Helping a Friend
Solidarity doesn’t always need to be international: all volunteer work,
helping those who are weaker of less fortunate, is solidarity. We must be
prepared to give up some things so that Finland and the world could
change for the better. The themes of UN’s Millennium Declaration,
especially those related to children, are implemented into Nuoret Kotkat
activities.

Our Work as a Children’s
Interest Group
In addition to being a children’s activity organization and
a promoter of children’s rights we also function as a special
interest group for children in political discussion. We perform
this by
• making initiatives to the party convention, the party
management and the parliament and minister group of
the Finnish Social Democrats Party and other concerned
quarters
• organizing and developing morning and afternoon activities
for school children and day camp and playground activities
for children not yet in school.
• giving out the Children’s Act of the Year Award
• organizing seminars on political issues concerning children
• cooperating with other organizations.

Clubs, Camps and Trips
Nuoret Kotkat has clubs usually once a week, at a place near the
children. The camps for children offer an excellent opportunity to take a
break, get out into the nature and learn new things with others. Children
get to make new friends, meet old ones and get new experiences on
outdoor and culture events, trips and many other activities.
Training for All
All our young members (aged 13 to 17) have the chance to participate
in long-term peer instructor training and through that get into instructor
positions on clubs, camps and other events.
Adult Instructors
Working with children is the best hobby you can have. Parents and all
other adults are welcomed to join us. Instructors are given regular
training, work counseling and rewards.
Morning and Afternoon Activities
for School Children
Nuoret Kotkat has expanded the options provided to children and
families by organizing morning and afternoon clubs for small school
children and day camp and playground activities for children not yet
in school.

Nuoret Kotkat Internationally
Through our umbrella organization IFM-SEI (International Falcon
Movement – Socialist Educational International) we have links
to over 50 sister organizations around the world, in Asia, Africa,
Europe and Latin America. In addition to IFM-SEI, we are part of
the Labour Movement Childrens’ Organizations in the Nordics,
ABN (Arbetarrörelsens Barnorganisationer i Norden). Nuoret Kotkat
also participates in cooperation projects with children’s organizations
in the Baltics and Russia.
Children, youth and adults who are involved in our activities have
the possibility to go on international camps and other events abroad.
Our goal of internationality is further helped by the increasing
multiculturalism in Finland.
Through our global umbrella organization and our Nordic cooperation
organization we have the possibilities for international projects that
help defend children’s rights worldwide. Our theme is the globalization
of children’s rights around the world.