We are looking for bold actions promoting equality among children and young people – tell us about an action or idea by 29 October

We want to highlight concrete actions that make the world more equal and inclusive for children and young people. We are looking for innovative, effective and practical actions that challenge traditional ways of working and open doors for everyone, regardless of their background, identity or personal situation. The action could be a bold experiment, an insightful concept or an entirely new way of addressing equality and inclusion issues in everyday life.

We are particularly interested in solutions that:

• make equality and inclusion visible and tangible;
• strengthen the participation and voice of children and young people;
• remove barriers and combat prejudices;
• create new opportunities for growth and a sense of belonging.

Whether in a school, hobby group, community or digital environment, meaningful actions take place where everyday life happens.

Tell us, by 29 October, about your or someone else’s activities that deserve recognition. Together we can build a future where every child and young person has an equal opportunity to shine. Both Espoo residents and city employees can take part in the TASSU competition.

The competition has two categories. In addition to those working for the city, the users of services in Espoo can nominate persons or teams representing the City of Espoo’s outsourced services or other third-sector operators based in Espoo (such as sports clubs or other organisations) who promote equality and non-discrimination. The winner will receive EUR 1,000 for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination.
The prize recipients will be announced on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2026, and the prizes will be presented at Gumböle Manor.
You can submit your proposal in Finnish(external link, opens in a new window), Swedish(external link, opens in a new window) or English(external link, opens in a new window).

The proposal form includes six sections:

1. Describe a concrete everyday action that has promoted equality and non-discrimination among children and young people and that has supported their inclusion. The action should be a new type of approach to equality and non-discrimination (max. 800 characters).
2. Tell us how the action promotes equality and/or non-discrimination (max. 400 characters).
3. Describe the feedback received from others (max. 600 characters).
4. Tell us how the action could be applied elsewhere (max. 600 characters).
5. Tell us where the jury can obtain information about the action to support its assessment (max. 600 characters).
6. Your contact information.

Last year, the winner of the external category in the TASSU competition was Esbo Bollklubb ry (EBK). EBK runs a football school for 5–7-year-old children that promotes the employment of minority groups and prevents the social exclusion of children and young people. 

”EBK’s recreational activities offer children and families from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to feel part of a community, make new friends and discover a new sport in a safe environment. The football school’s coaches include players from both our women’s first team and our junior teams. For these players, the football school also provides their first work experience,” says Joanna Seppä, EBK’s Club Coordinator.

Thanks to the TASSU prize, EBK has been able to expand its football school.

“Previously, we organised the activities in the Keski-Espoo sports park. Now, the football school also has a group that meets in Karhusuo. The goal is to bring the activities even closer to families, making it as easy as possible for them to get involved. This autumn, our football school has almost 100 participants and more than ten coaches. The number of participants and coaches has doubled over the past year,” Seppä says.

”What matters most to us is that children and young people become enthusiastic about physical activity and gain positive experiences of sports. We hope that participating in our activities will have a long-lasting impact on their lives. In the multicultural area of central Espoo, the football school is a low-threshold activity where families can get to know the area, other families, and the club’s activities. It also gives families opportunities to become more involved with the club, for example through volunteering,” Seppä says.

Read more about the TASSU competition and fill in the form.