The Palokan Ilo Gymnastics Club has been awarded the Tähtiseura Incentive Prize in recognition of its significant work in promoting youth employment. The Tähtiseura program is a joint quality system established by the Finnish Olympic Committee, sports federations, and regional organizations to highlight high-quality and responsible club activities in Finland.

The “Tähtiseura” award was presented to Palokan Ilo on Saturday, April 11, in Jyväskylä. The club has built up its operations over the long term to give young people a real opportunity to continue as recreational athletes even after the competitive phase and, above all, to grow into responsible roles as instructors and coaches. The club offers young people an accessible path to their first work assignments, which for many is an important step into working life.

– It’s often difficult for young people to gain their first work experience. A sports club can offer a unique and safe environment where they can learn responsibility, social skills, and the rules of the workplace, the club explains.

At Palokan Ilo, young people are seen not merely as recipients of the program’s activities, but as active participants. The association involves young people in leadership roles, entrusts them with responsibility, and supports their development through training. This fosters continuity throughout the entire association community. Today’s young people are the leaders of tomorrow.

The prize money will be used to train young assistant coaches. The goal is to build the skills of young people and give more of them the opportunity to gain their first work experience in club activities.

Palokan Ilos’s activities are an example of how a sports club can have a broad impact on the community. It not only offers the joy of physical activity, but also paves the way for young people toward participation, working life, and taking on responsibility.

– It’s wonderful to see how dedicated Palokan Ilo is to working on behalf of young people. I myself started my career through club activities, so I know what a significant role they can play in providing that first work experience. Engaging and keeping young people active is incredibly important, and at its best, club activities offer a safe environment where they can learn skills for working life, take on responsibility, and grow into the community, says Liisa Ahlqvist-Lehkosuo, Sports Director at the Olympic Committee. 

The “Tähtiseura” award was presented by the quality program’s main partner, Xylitol-Jenkki.  

– Palokan Ilo does valuable, long-term work for children and young people in Jyväskylä. “It’s fantastic to support an organization where young people are offered the opportunity to train as assistants while gaining their first valuable work experience,” says Tiia Pyökäri, Sales Manager at Cloetta, who presented the Xylitol-Jenkins Encouragement Award to Palokan Ilo.