Members
Member Organisation
1987
SAKKI was founded in 1987 by vocational students to fight for their rights and to increase the respect for vocational education. During the years SAKKI has achieved a high status within the society as a leading organisation for vocational students. From the beginning SAKKI has worked closely with many other organisations and for example the Ministry of Education in Finland. Nowadays SAKKI holds annual courses to local school student union activists and tutor –students in vocational education and SAKKI’s courses are highly respected.
SAKKI is a nationwide organization and has members all around Finland. As an individual member, the board can admit a person who is over 15 years of age and who is in vocational education and training. As a student union member the board can admit a registered supporters’ association of a student union that consists of permanent students of educational institutions. Registered unions in the field of youth activity can be accepted as community members. An individual, an incorporate society or a foundation that wishes to support the union can be accepted as a supporting member. For an individual member SAKKI’s student card is the most valuable benefit that entitles the student to all major student discounts in Finland and also around the Europe. SAKKI’s student card is the cheapest one in Finland.
Number of Members: approximately 100 000 members.
The purpose of the Union is to
- act as a guardian of the interests of its members in matters related to educational and social policies as well as other study-related matters
- act as a service organisation for its members by developing membership-related benefits
- increase the respect for vocational education and training and promote the activities of student unions and the development of the members into active citizens
- enhance the interaction between vocational education and training and the working life and increase the labour market knowledge of the members
- promote cultural and leisure activities, and
- enhance the status of those who have finished their studies and remained unemployed and their positioning in the working life.
SAKKI has been working actively against illegal material fees in vocational institutions in Finland. SAKKI arranges yearly the biggest education and working life fair, Next Step fair, in Finland. Every year approximately 20 000 people visit the fair. SAKKI has affected actively in improving the study grants and students subsistence in Finland. SAKKI had a delegate in a working group of Ministry of education, which was intended to improve the study grant system. SAKKI has a close co-operation with many student and youth organizations in Finland. For example study grants, the youth unemployment and students health care have been majure issues of discussion and co-operation within the last years. If necessary, SAKKI works and develops activities with other organizations, parties and unions in issues that concern vocational students. SAKKI also trains students in local school student union every year. Every spring SAKKI holds a big cruise in order to respect the graduating students. Over 1000 students attend the cruise every year.