Browsing by Subject "syrjäytymisen ehkäisy"

The emotional instability and the risk of being socially excluded are growing all the time among the children and young people. The chances of physical activities improving the quality of life is an interesting and current study, as for a human being the physical activities play a big role in one's psychological well-being, and there is a good chance to prevent children's and young people's social exclusion with sports. This study was purposed to find out what kind of children take part to Helsinki's EasySport -easy access sport clubs. The study is supposed to find out if the EasySport -action is reaching the right children, which are in threat of being socially excluded or are the participating children mainly already having experience in sport clubs and sport as a hobby. I am also analyzing if participating a sport club is improving child's social interaction or if it's bringing more friendships. I also think it's very important to know the children's opinion about how this easy access action differs from a traditional sport club action and physical education at school. The study's theoretical frame of reference forms from the social exclusion and it's prevention as well as the affection of sports in psychological and social development of a person. The sport club action and physical education in relation to easy access sports are also handled in the theory part. The research questions were: What kind of children are participating the EasySport-clubs? Is the EasySport-action reaching the right children to support the prevention of the social exclusion? How do the EasySport-clubs differ from the traditional sport club action? What makes the EasySport an easy access action? Are the EasySport-clubs encouraging children's social development? The target of the research was, therefore, the children participating the Easy Sport -ball clubs. The study was carried out in form interview by visiting eight Easy Sport -ball clubs. A total of 71 children from age 7 to 13 responded to the survey. The study was conducted as a qualitative case study and the data was analyzed using content analysis. Based on the study it became clear that the children participating the EasySport-clubs are mainly boys with immigrant background. The activity supports the integration of immigrants, which is part of the prevention of the exclusion. Ball clubs also develops children's communication skills and the regular participation in the club can improve the children's quality of life and ignite the enthusiasm of exercise. The results of the operation can also be seen as contributing to children's social development and friendships. The children participating the Easy Sport -ball clubs experience the activity meaningful and different from the school sports or sport club activity, because the children have the opportunity to decide what the program includes and the activities are considered more free.

The aim of this study was to explore post-secondary school education (i.e. tenth grade) students' conceptions of the main goals of the tenth grade, actualized contents in the tenth grade and role of the tenth grade in the Finnish educational system. In this study there were also examined the motivational as well as contextual factors that had influenced the student's educational selection. Further, this study aimed to unravel perspectives that would help in improving secondary- and supplementary school education to prevent educational exclusion and school drop out after post-secondary school. Qualitative data was gathered by using theme interview. Interviews were conducted in early 2014, at a preselected time and location in a secondary school in Helsinki. The participants were 8 students attending a tenth grade. The structure of interview was allowed to develop individually during the interview process, which is typical for theme based interviews. The collected data was analyzed relying on a theory grounded qualitative content analysis. The results of the study indicated that tenth grade was seen as a part of Finnish educational system, aim of which is to prevent educational exclusion by implementing educationally and personally meaningful contents in practice. The participants decisions to apply for the tenth grade was influenced by both motivational and contextual factors. The analysis of motivational factors revealed that the participants emphasized reflecting his/hers future as a result of that reflection being motivated to apply and participate in supplementary education. Contextual factors were emphasized as being supportive and clarifying components regarding the participants educational choices. Especially student counselling was seen as being an effective factor in making educational choices. According to the findings, one reason for the risk of school drop-out was a negative image of self as a pupil. Regarding the participants, that image changed positively during the tenth grade. That change appeared to have had a positive effect also to one's conceptions about school and studying. The result of this study brings valuable knowledge of tenth and of the factor related to educational exclusion. Understanding and recognizing these factors better, helps in developing our educational system to be better able to face and eliminate issues which cause educational exclusion.