Pledge 55 – Vantaa

On 21 September, Vantaa signed a pledge to principles 1 and 11 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, reaffirming its commitment to education, training and lifelong learning as well as to childcare and support to children.

Vantaa is committed to invest in upskilling its labour force by:

• Implementing an EU-funded Urban Innovative Action focused on Growth and Social Investment Pacts for Local Companies by which to develop the skills of both employed and unemployed people in Vantaa and match with the needs of the local companies
• Social innovation through Growth Deals for local companies to recruit, train and upskill people who are either unemployed or employed in low-skilled jobs

Vantaa is also committed to close the gaps in learning and well-being for children from less well-off city districts by:

• Directing extra municipal resources to the city’s districts where there is more need for support to children, as part of the Regional Program of Positive Action 2019-2021
• Hiring 21 children and family instructors and 12 development teachers to reinforce early childhood education and care in the less-off areas of the city with a focus on inclusive pedagogies
• Social innovation to test and develop new methodologies to work on inclusion and equality from a young age, supported by the Finnish government with €1.6 million grant

Vantaa’s Mayor, Ritva Viljanen, said: “The learning and education vision of Vantaa is a learning city, with competent residents, and life-long learning. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for learning and developing to all our residents, both children and adults.”