House of Helsinki has an annual tradition of recognising one volunteer as our Volunteer of the Year . The announcement is made each year on International Volunteer Day, 5 December. Nowadays, most of our volunteers are actively engaged in the REFUFIN project, supporting people from Ukraine who are building their lives in Finland. At the same time, volunteers continue contributing to many other House of Helsinki activities like representing House of Helsinki on different even

Today we want to share the story of Oleh and Anel — a couple whose journey to Finland has turned into a story of resilience, kindness, and deep commitment to helping others. Since September 2025, they’ve been among our most active volunteers, supporting newcomers from Ukraine both online and in person. Anel and Oleh at Moniheli's 15th birthday celebration. Picture: Bisher Sawan A Journey That Changed Everything Oleh and Anel describe their arrival in Finland as pure chance o

People choose their favorite places in Helsinki and volunteer to create walk-like excursions for House of Helsinki team: volunteers and staff. It’s a wonderful way to share different districts through your own perspective — especially when the place holds personal meaning. Maybe you were born there, lived there for a while, or simply love it. You find your own way to share the feeling to reveal hidden corners that only locals know. This place is special to you; your roots are

A friendly reminder, in 2025 House of Helsinki has launched a new initiative called Kaupunki Kaverit, promoting two-way integration. The goal is to build a community where both people with immigrant backgrounds and native Finns can learn from each other, share everyday life, and explore their city together. Our volunteers across Finland organise urban walks in different neighborhoods, each walk offering a unique perspective — cultural, historical, or architectural. These wa

Today we celebrate Miina Sillanpää and Civil Society Day. It is a moment to pause and recognize how civic actors strengthen wellbeing,...

Some participants of our mushroom walk Kaupunki Kaverit (City Friends)  is an initiative that promotes two-way integration, bringing...

The REFUFIN volunteer team is diverse, bringing together people from different cultures and backgrounds. Since our mission is to support...

The House of Helsinki’s  Mapping the needs of people who fled the war in Ukraine and now reside in Finland (2025) indicates that...

How volunteering supports people fleeing the war in Ukraine When war displaces thousands, the first response often focuses on...

In early April, House of Helsinki had the honour of hosting representatives from the Czech organisation   Kalyna – Komunitní uprchlické...

House of Helsinki proudly joins other organisations in signing this statement authored by Kansalaisareena ry , calling on the Finnish...

Next Event: Online Presentation on March 27 We will also host an English-language online event on March 27 , where we will present key...

Today, on December 5th, the International Volunteer Day, we proudly celebrate all volunteers who dedicate their time, expertise, and...

In August 2024, the REFUFIN project faced a highly complex and urgent case. Volunteers from Ukraine reached out for assistance for a...

At the latest House of Helsinki autumn board meeting on October 24, board members and employees gathered to review and approve the 2025...

Today, we celebrate two important days: NGOs Day and Miina Sillanpää Day. These days highlight the immense significance of civic...

Welcome to Tulevaisuustorstai (Future Thursday) on 26 September at 9-11AM to reflect on the development of volunteering from the...

This year marked the second annual Good People Event at Helsinki Missio, continuing the tradition of celebrating our volunteers' work on...

During the SuomiAreena festival, Familia ry organized a panel discussion on the topic “Finnishness 2.0 - How Do We Define Finnishness?”....

Migrants who identify as LGBTQ+ face a unique set of challenges that heavily impact their mental health and overall well-being. This...