One component of the Helsinki-Tokyo cooperation was arrangements for the regular exchange of high school students. The first group of high school students from Tokyo is visiting Helsinki this year from 18–21 December. During their visit, the students will participate in classes at the Helsinki Fine Arts High School Torkkeli and make visits to various cultural and business locations.
The group that is visiting Helsinki includes 16 students from four different high schools: the Tokyo Metropolitan Shinjuku-Yamabuki High School, Tokyo Metropolitan Suginami Koka High School, Tokyo Metropolitan Daigo Shogyo High School and Tokyo Metropolitan Tanashi Koka High School. Twelve general upper secondary school students from Helsinki who visited Tokyo in November are accompanying the visitors during their stay.
"Over the past few years, we have built and deepened our cooperation with several different cities, including global megacities such as Tokyo. We are working jointly with Tokyo on several different themes and we have many shared goals that connect our cities. Above all, we seek to promote future know-how and investments that will create sustainable values and sustainable growth. Our cooperation is made tangible in measures that benefit the people of Helsinki – in this case, benefitting young people. Internationalism should ideally be part of young people’s everyday interactions at every level of education, as young people can learn so much from each other," says Mayor Vartiainen.
High school students from Tokyo and Helsinki were the guests of Mayor Vartiainen at Helsinki City Hall on Tuesday, 19 December.