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The national #OlenTukena campaign will take place from 10 to 16 February 2025, raising awareness of the positive effects of volunteer mentoring and support relationships on the well-being of children and young people. Throughout the week, stories from volunteer mentors, support families, and adult friends will be shared on social media using the hashtags #OlenTukena, #JagStöder, and #IamSupporting.
Volunteer mentoring provides children and young people with a safe and reliable adult presence in their lives. Support relationships typically involve meeting a few times a month for shared activities, offering stability and companionship.
The campaign is supported by several organisations, including the City of Helsinki, the Finnish Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (EHJÄ ry), Save the Children Finland, Yhteiset Lapsemme, the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare Uusimaa, SOS Children’s Village Finland, OmaKamu, HelsinkiMissio, Mieskaveritoiminta, and the wellbeing services counties of Vantaa and Kerava, Western Uusimaa, and Central Uusimaa.
Volunteer support is more than just assistance—it can create lifelong bonds. Volunteers are needed across Finland to provide meaningful connections for young people. Yasemin, 20, and Pipsa, 35, met through EHJÄ ry’s Omilleen programme and have developed a deep friendship over five years. Yasemin said that during difficult times, meeting Pipsa has sometimes been the only positive moment in her week or even month. Pipsa shared that she considers Yasemin more like a family member than just a friend or mentee.
Loneliness remains a serious issue in Finland across all age groups, with the COVID-19 pandemic having worsened feelings of isolation among young people. Niina Junttila, professor of educational psychology and supporter of the campaign, has researched loneliness among children and youth. She warns that prolonged loneliness during adolescence can lead to severe psychological effects, including social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, aggression, and self-destructive thoughts or behaviours.
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
