Kuhmo Citizens’ Jury for Young People and Young Adults | Research group for innovating democracy

In autumn 2025, we carried out a survey and a citizens’ jury in Kuhmo in cooperation with the City of Kuhmo. The citizens’ jury, aimed at 16–34-year-olds, was part of the EU-funded Sincrony research project.

The survey and citizens’ jury supported the City of Kuhmo’s strategic work and the drafting of its wellbeing plan. The survey examined young people’s views on the city’s vitality and on developing youth participation. The jury focused on mapping challenges and solutions related to the city’s ability to attract and retain residents.

Young people and young adults participate in political decision-making less than older age groups. Young people and young adults in Kuhmo were invited to the citizens’ jury so that their views could be incorporated into the city’s decision-making process. The jury addressed the question of how the City of Kuhmo could be an attractive and pleasant place to live.

In autumn 2025, the survey was sent to all 16–34-year-old residents of Kuhmo. Everyone in the age group also had the opportunity to register for the citizens’ jury, which delved more deeply into the survey’s themes and results. The youth citizens’ jury met in Kuhmo in November 2025, with 13 local young people and young adults participating.

During the jury, participants heard from experts, deliberated challenges and solutions related to the city’s attractiveness and retention, and drafted a public statement. The statement addressed upper secondary education, communications and marketing, higher-educated people and young women, funding, and cultural offerings. The statement was submitted to the City of Kuhmo to support the preparation of the city strategy and wellbeing plan.

Read the Kuhmo citizens’ jury statement (in Finnish)

Read the University of Turku news item about the Kuhmo citizens’ jury

Project Researcher Miikka Korventausta, miikor@utu.fi