Salla teens run summer grill to fill local gap

In the small municipality of Salla, a summer grill run by local teens is now in its fourth season, offering food not otherwise available in the area, Yle reports.

Seventeen-year-olds Aava Vuolukka and Ninnu Körkkö operate the grill through the local 4H club, selling grilled food and providing home deliveries. After two weeks of work, each can earn up to €1,000.

The project began in 2022 when the club’s executive director, Anniina Kämäräinen, asked young members what business they wanted to try. The teens proposed a grill, an unusual choice even within the 4H network. The location—a disused municipal grill building next to the 4H house—was already in place.

Salla offers few summer jobs, with the municipality and local shops as the main employers. For the teens, the grill provides independence. “It’s great to be your own boss,” Körkkö said.

Last year, over 3,115 young Finns ran their own 4H businesses, nearly quadruple the number from a decade ago. In rural areas, these ventures often fill service gaps, according to Maiju Javanainen, executive director of the Kaakonkulma 4H association in Virolahti.

While Vuolukka and Körkkö enjoy the experience, they do not see it as a lifelong career. “It’s fun, but I don’t want to do this forever,” Vuolukka said.