Mahis

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Mahis

Mahis is the longest-running project of Nuorten Akatemia that operates with the main goal of supporting young people, aged 13 to 17, who are in a vulnerable situation in their lives. Mahis strives to help these youngsters by offering them ways of strengthening their skills in life management.

For 20 years Mahis has trained youth workers to run project groups that are planned around the current needs and hopes of young people. The goal is to inspire different kinds of teens to take part in a group activity, so that their self-knowledge, feeling of control regarding their own lives and confidence in the future can grow. Trained Mahis-tutors can apply for a scholarship to cover the expenses of organizing a project the youngsters themselves have planned.

In 2018 Mahis celebrated its 20th anniversary with the president Sauli Niinistö acting as the distinguished patron of the celebratory year and Joonas Nordman, Paula Noronen, Nasima Razmyar and Mikko Toiviainen being the wonderful godparents.

Mahis-training

In the Mahis-training we offer adults who work with youngsters, ideas and tools on how to encounter a young person, currently in a vulnerable situation in their life, and how to enable their participation and involvement. The training focuses on different operational and participative methods, basic Mahis-procedures and the role of a tutor in a Mahis-project, ways to contribute to a better interaction and on how to cope with stress and take care of one’s resources in their daily life.

By its methods, Mahis-training is a combination of operational, deliberative and peer support enabling procedures. A trained Mahis-tutor can apply for a scholarship to cover the expenses of organizing a project the youngsters themselves have planned. All Mahis-trainings are organized to order.

Mahis-scholarship

Every Mahis-tutor, that has completed the Mahis-training, can apply for a scholarship together with the group they have formed.

The scholarship is meant to cover the expenses of a project that has been planned and organized by the youngsters themselves. The scholarship is 1000 euros at its max, and it can be used to cover the eating and material expenses, entrance fees and tickets for travelling.

To be eligible for a Mahis-scholarship, the group must have youngsters (aged 13 to 17) in vulnerable situations in their lives, as well as a Mahis-tutor. The scholarship won’t be granted to an established organization or activity, only to projects that have been planned and organized from start to finish by the Mahis-group and their tutor.

Some Mahis-projects

Robot fair

In this Mahis-project, the youngsters organized a robotics and programming -themed event for the schools of their region, with 5th and 6th graders taking part in the workshops. The Mahis-teens took the roles of mentors and advisers of the workshop participants. They also took care of the food maintenance.

Concert

Mahis-teens became inspired by their love of music and decided to hold a concert of their own. The group assembled a program together with the help of an accompanist, practiced it studiously and organized the whole concert evening. They were even in charge of the marketing of the event as well as decorating the venue. The group gathered extra inspiration and professional advice by visiting different concerts as guests.

Fantasy photographs

In this Mahis-project, the youngsters decided to create fantasy photographs of themselves, posing together with horses. During the day camp, each teen got to be the photographee as well as work as the photographer’s assistant. The girls designed the themes of their own photos as well as prepared and sourced the props and costumes. Images chosen by the youngsters were then made into big photo enlargements and portrayed in an exhibition attended by their loved ones.