ABSTRACT

Oulu University of Applied Sciences Degree Programme in Social Services

Author: Heidi Välimaa Title of thesis: Youngsters’ Experiences of Spending Leisure Time in the Finland-Sweden Border Area Supervisors: Sanna Pellinen and Pirjo Ylikauma Time when the thesis was submitted: Autumn 2010 Number of pages: 77+9 appendix pages

The purpose of this study was to explore how 13–17-year-old youngsters spent their leisure time in the Finland-Sweden border area. The purpose was also to survey how much the municipal youth work affected the youngsters’ way to spend their leisure time.

The theoretical framework of my study consisted of knowledge of youth and youth work. I examined youth in the context of community work and multicultural environment. I observed the youth work through the law and functions of youth work. My thesis is based on qualitive case research. The data for my study was gathered through theme-based interviews and I analyzed all the answers using the method of theory-based content analysis. I interviewed four yougsters from Ylitornio. The results of my study showed that the border area of two countries is richness for the youngsters of the area. Municipal youth work played also a central role in youngsters’ leisure time.

My study showed that living on the border area of two countries offered an opportunity to youngsters to get new friends, versatile leisure time hobbies and alternatives to choose their meeting places. The study showed that youngsters were also aware of the opportunities that living in the border area gives. Youngsters regarded the youth club as a central issue of the municipal youth work. My study showed that social media were important to youngsters and it would be necessary start to using social media like Facebook in municipal youth work. Youngsters also wanted to be more in touch with Swedish youngsters through the youth work.

Keywords: youth work, youngsters, leisure time spending, multicultural, qualitive case research