Äxöniä project – experiences and self-transcendence in small groups for 15–29-year-olds

Created 02.06.2026
Äxöniä project – experiences and self-transcendence in small groups for 15–29-year-olds
Äxöniä project – experiences and self-transcendence in small groups for 15–29-year-olds

Summary

The Äxöniä project aims to reduce young people’s substance use and risk-taking behaviour. An operating model has been developed within the project to reach and engage young people who display risk-taking behaviour, such as substance use, aggression, impulsivity, antisocial behaviour, school absences, criminal behaviour, or who have not engaged with various services or activities that would meet their needs. Through the project, young people develop their ability to commit to activities, which may in the future support their engagement with services that are suitable for them. By strengthening life management skills, the project aims to improve participants’ functional capacity and prevent social exclusion.

The project implements small-group activities aimed at young people aged 15–29. Separate groups are organised for 15–17-year-olds and 18–29-year-olds. The groups offer experiences, activities, various forms of action and “peak moments”, while discussions that strengthen life management skills are integrated into the activities. The purpose of the activities is to provide alternative ways of spending time, experiences and new approaches to replace, for example, the “adrenaline rushes” gained from substance use and other risk-taking behaviour.

The activities provide young people with an opportunity to test their own limits safely, without the harmful consequences associated with risk-taking behaviour, and to gain experiences of success that strengthen self-esteem as they overcome challenges and exceed their own expectations. The long-term goal is to reduce substance use and risk-taking behaviour, influence young people’s attitudes and contribute to breaking the cycle of intergenerational social exclusion. The activities also include a peer-support perspective, as groups are formed taking age and other relevant factors into account.

The conclusions of the impact evaluation conducted by the Research and Rehabilitation Foundation indicate that the expectations of young people (aged 15–29) regarding group activities and their experiences of the benefits of participation were strongly aligned. The young people received significant support from the group activities for their well-being, physical fitness, participation, social relationships and mental well-being. According to the impact evaluation conducted by the Research and Rehabilitation Foundation, particularly positive changes were observed in young people’s experiences both as victims of violence and as perpetrators of violence: experiences of both experiencing and committing violence decreased.

Target group

Professionals
Children and early adolescents
Youth
Young adults
Students

Assessment

The model has not been reviewed yet.

Äxöniä -hanke

General model description

The problem or challenge the model addresses

The project is based on experiences of declining youth well-being in the Ylä-Savo SOTE Joint Municipal Authority area. The project applicant, INTRY, has extensive experience in working with young people, and the challenges and reduced well-being experienced by young people are evident in everyday work at the youth workshop and in various projects. Young people may experience difficulties with commitment and engagement, which can be related to substance use or mental health challenges. The area also includes young people who are not involved in any services or education.

The purpose of the project is to provide alternative activities, experiences and new ways of acting to replace the “adrenaline rushes” gained from substance use and other risk-taking behaviour.

The activities provide young people with an opportunity to safely test their own limits without the harmful effects associated with risk-taking behaviour, as well as experiences of success that strengthen self-esteem as young people overcome challenges and exceed their own expectations. The long-term objective is to reduce substance use and risk-taking behaviour, influence young people’s attitudes and contribute to breaking the cycle of intergenerational exclusion.

The target group and their needs

Strengthening the experience of inclusion has been shown to improve an individual’s well-being. Through the project, we aim to strengthen this experience through small-group activities.

The target group of the project consists of 15–29-year-old young people who engage in risk-taking behaviour. During the planning phase of the project, interviews were conducted with professionals working in the area, including a youth physician, outreach youth workers, a school and student welfare counsellor, the Ankkuri team, substance abuse and mental health professionals, as well as representatives of social services and young people participating in the youth workshop.

https://thl.fi/aiheet/hyvinvoinnin-ja-terveyden-edistamisen-johtaminen/osallisu…
The objectives set for the model

Through the project, we aim to identify and develop replicable approaches to promoting young people’s well-being and commitment.

Indicators and methods for monitoring and evaluating the achievement of objectives

The Rehabilitation Foundation conducts an impact evaluation of the Äxöniä project by collecting feedback from participants.

The young people involved in the activities complete the Kykyviisari self-assessment at the beginning and end of the programme. This enables us to identify changes in their work ability and functional capacity.

Kuntoutussäätiö
The key requirements for implementation of the model

The implementation of the operating model requires sufficient financial and human resources, as well as facilities that are appropriate in relation to the number of participants and the content of the activities. Employees should have adequate education and work experience to support and engage with young people in challenging life situations. Network cooperation promotes the referral of participants to the service. Through active communication and marketing, young people belonging to the target group can be reached either directly or indirectly.

The core content of the model

Core elements of the operating model:

-Communication and marketing targeted at networks, partners and the target group.

-Participant referral to the service → introduction and assessment of the appropriate timing for participation → starting the client relationship, assessing the life situation and setting personal goals → individual meetings, starting group activities and network cooperation → monitoring and evaluating goals (possible statements for networks).

-Group activities: starting the group, getting to know each other, creating shared rules, planning schedules and the content of activities together with participants within the available budget, implementing group activities and discussing topics related to life management alongside the activities, observing the group and individuals → individual and group discussions → concluding the activities and collecting feedback.

-Monitoring the effectiveness of the activities and developing the operating model based on the feedback received and, where applicable, an impact evaluation conducted by an external evaluator.

Asiakastyönprosessi (486.46 KB)

Changes achieved through the model

The experience of engagement gained through the project promotes young people’s commitment to the further pathways and services available to them.

The activities promote young people’s well-being. Based on the young people’s own accounts, the feedback collected and the impact evaluation, positive changes occurred in the life situations of the young people who participated in the project. Their sense of life management improved, experiences of violence decreased significantly, the use of both legal and illegal substances decreased, and the young people felt that they had received support in maintaining a substance-free lifestyle.

The activities supported sobriety and contributed, among other things, to the rehabilitation of some young people after the use of illegal substances. Among the students who participated in the activities, motivation for education improved and their studies progressed.

Verified short-term results and impacts

According to the impact evaluation, the young people’s experiences of participating in the group activities were positive. The average scores received ranged between 3.4 and 3.5 on a four-point scale.

The young people’s satisfaction with their lives, health and physical fitness improved during the activities. Their perception of their own functional capacity improved significantly. The young people’s experiences of being victims of violence and of perpetrating violence decreased considerably.

Vaikuttavuudenarvio, raportti (1.15 MB)
Vaikuttavuudenarvio, raportti (1.27 MB)
Verified or intended long-term impact

The intended long-term impact of the operating model is to improve young people’s well-being and reduce risk-taking behaviour. The operating model strengthens young people’s engagement with the services available to them and promotes their life management skills and sense of self-efficacy within their immediate community and society as a whole.

The cost effects in the short and long term

The cost effects of the operating model arise from the reduction of risk-taking behaviour, young people’s increased engagement with the services intended for them, and the progress made in their studies. The resources of service providers are used effectively and are not wasted, making the activities cost-efficient.

Is the model transferable to another operating environment?
Yes
Additional information on the model’s transferability

The operating model can be utilised either as a whole or in the parts that best serve the participants and the service provider.

Additional information on the model’s transferability

When implementing the operating model, it is important to consider the available resources (facilities, number of employees, time resources and finances). The implementation should ensure participants’ involvement, especially in planning and carrying out the content of the activities. Network cooperation plays an important role in referring participants to the service.

Young people in the target group are often already involved in various services, although their engagement with these available services may be limited. At the beginning of cooperation, it is beneficial to identify together with the young person any other relevant actors involved. This ensures that existing information and goals can be utilised by all parties when supporting the young person’s service pathway, together with the young person and with their consent.

Engaging young people in group activities can be challenging. Effective methods for strengthening engagement have included personal messages between group sessions, such as positive feedback, reminders and asking how the young person is doing, group rules created together with participants, individual discussions, and network cooperation (for example, accompanying the young person to the first sessions).

It is important to ensure that every person participating in the group has the opportunity to express their own wishes regarding group activities. Efforts should be made to implement at least one activity or suggestion proposed by each young person so that the activities are experienced as equal and inclusive.

Knowing the content of upcoming group sessions in advance motivates participants and helps them prepare for what is ahead. Regular meetings with a clear structure and planned content create safety and predictability, which can reduce possible anxiety and make engagement easier.

Contact should be maintained even if a young person has several absences, so that the threshold for returning to the group does not become too high. Excessive and unjustified absences by an individual participant may affect the group’s activities and group dynamics. When necessary, it should be considered whether the service is timely and appropriate for the participant’s current situation.

The activities should be kept as open as possible for young people and networks while ensuring confidentiality. A participant’s matters should only be discussed with networks with the participant’s consent. It is preferable that the participant is present in network meetings. If the participant cannot attend, they should be informed in advance about what matters will be discussed and why.

Challenging situations arising within the group should be addressed together with the people involved. Group facilitators should have the courage to approach difficult topics constructively, such as conflicts between participants, possible substance use during group sessions, child welfare notifications and challenging behaviour.

It is important to demonstrate the impact of the activities to participants, networks, funders and other stakeholders, for example through participation indicators, the Kykyviisari self-assessment tool, and other forms and applications measuring work ability and functional capacity.

Background information

Area
North Savo wellbeing services county
Iisalmi
Kiuruvesi
Sonkajärvi
Vieremä
Organisations
Iisalmen Nuorison Tuki Ry
Field of activity
Prevention & well-being promotion,
Operating Environment
Youth workshop Iisalmen Nuorison Tuki ry, Iisalmi
Type of model
Method
Stage of development
Generalised
Implementation and dissemination
Experimented
Funding body
Euroopan Sosiaalirahasto (ESR)
Säätiöt ja rahastot