About me
I am Sonja Naalisvaara – a Green student and advocate with a passion for building a better Helsinki. At the age of 16, I moved from Rovaniemi to Helsinki alone to study, pursue my dreams, and to build my home here. I want to ensure that in the future, everybody has the chance to move to Helsinki and chase their own dreams and aspirations.
In my day-job I work as an Advocacy and Communications Manager, while studying environmental sciences at the University of Helsinki. In other positions of trust, I promote sustainable mobility on the board of HKL (Helsinki City Transport) and advocate student mental health as the chairperson of a student organization.
I want Helsinki to be a leader in resisting the government’s short-sighted budget cuts and in building a sustainable future. My vision for Helsinki is one that is ecologically, socially, economically, and culturally sustainable. A Helsinki where everyone can afford to live and receive support for their mental health in times of need. A Helsinki that safeguards the future of coming generations and works tirelessly to combat the climate and biodiversity crises.
I entered politics because I believe that well-being and equality are the foundation of a sustainable future. By taking care of each other, we can save the planet and make Helsinki the best place in the world to live, study, and dream.
Change is never achieved alone – let’s work together to make Helsinki greener, fairer, and happier! 💚
Themes
Building home for everyone
Even more people cannot afford to live in Helsinki. Affordable housing is scarce, and homelessness has not been eliminated. I want to push for fairer housing policies and build Helsinki a home for everyone.
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The availability of affordable housing is decreasing while social security services are being drastically cut. As a result of government actions, even more people are left fearing whether they will still have a roof over their heads tomorrow. The number of payment default entries and debt enforcement cases have risen alarmingly. Those receiving housing benefits are being required to move into the cheapest available apartments – except that such cheap apartments do not exist.
Helsinki has a goal of eradicating homelessness by 2025, yet in 2023, there were still 739 homeless people in the city. The goal must be upheld. There are nowhere near enough affordable student apartments for those in need.
Eliminating Distress in Helsinki
Too many people are left without help or face months-long waits for treatment. Mental health care cannot be only about crisis management – we need prevention, quick access to care, low-threshold support, and the promotion of community well-being.
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Helsinki must invest in mental health services, because too many people are left without help or are forced to wait treatment for months. Mental health care cannot be merely about crisis management – we need prevention, swift access to care, low-threshold support, and the promotion of communal well-being. Everyone deserves the chance for well-being.
I want to ensure that Helsinki takes mental health service accessibility seriously. This means allocating more resources to student welfare, implementing a therapy guarantee at the city level, and developing mental health services for young people.
Helsinki Thrives from Nature
The well-being and success of Helsinki’s residents are only possible on a thriving planet. That’s why Helsinki must ambitiously cut emissions and prioritize biodiversity protection.
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The environmental crisis doesn’t wait. The well-being and success of Helsinki’s residents depend on a thriving planet, and Helsinki must ambitiously reduce emissions and prioritize the protection of biodiversity. As the capital, Helsinki must be bolder and stronger in leading the way, especially when the government is dismantling Finland’s goals with its poor environmental policies.