Outreach youth worker Glenn Grip awarded
The Bensow Foundation appointed Glenn Grip, the outreach youth worker of the city of Espoo, as the Children's Rights Hero of the Year during the ongoing Finland-Swedish Children's Rights Days in Helsinki.
According to the foundation's reasoning, Grip is a dedicated, open, and warm person genuinely interested in the well-being of young people. He moves throughout the entire Helsinki metropolitan area, being present where young people are, on their terms, both in school and during leisure time. He engages, discusses, and supports young people in both small and large matters, all based on the needs and circumstances of the youth.
Glenn Grip is a familiar figure among the youth in Espoo. He served as a youth leader at the Swedish Sökö ungdomslokal youth center for about ten years, and for a little over two years now, he has been working as an outreach youth worker in the field. Grip appreciates the prestigious recognition he has received. At the same time, he wants to emphasize the importance of teamwork in his job:
"It's a tremendous honor that I greatly appreciate. However, I want to remind everyone that this is a team effort, and all colleagues are equally important to the end result."
In his work, Grip collaborates with a working pair from Finnish-speaking youth services out in the field. He also collaborates with colleagues in neighboring municipalities and crosses municipal borders, just as the young people do.
"There seems to be a great need for secure adults in the everyday lives of young people, and I am glad that we can offer that also in Swedish," says Grip.