Field Visits
Field visits
Our international week program includes study visits to places where various forms of community work are carried out. Each participant can visit three (3) locations during the week. On Tuesday afternoon, we have one (1) visit in the program, and on Wednesday afternoon, we have two (2) visits.
Visits are a mandatory part of the week’s program. A maximum of 20 people can visit each destination, and places are allocated in order of registration. We hope you get the most out of your visits.
Instructions
Select one (1) destination for Tuesday and two (2) for Wednesday. The destinations for Wednesday are selected as a package of two (2) visits.
How to get the most out of your visits?
Familiarize yourself with the activities as much as possible in advance via the websites. If you wish, you can also think of questions to ask during your visit. We will send the questions to the visit locations on Monday, April 20, 2026.
If you wish, you can ask us locals for more information either before or after your visit. We are happy to help.
For the visits to be successful, it is important that a) visits are made as a group b) a Humak student acts as a guide for each group c) everyone has a travel card purchased in advance or a single ticket d) be active and ask questions, help with interpreting if necessary e) and most importantly, have fun!
Tuesday 21.04.2026, 1:45 to 3:00
‘Forms of community work for young people in NGOs, foundations, and online’
1. Loisto Setlementti, The Boys’ House (NGO)
Loisto setlementti is a Finnish forerunner in youth work and has a long history of working with a gender sensitive and a culturally sensitive approach.
Organization carry out gender- and culture-sensitive social youth work targeting boys and young men aged 10–28, taking gender diversity into account.
Boys’ House offers boys, men, and young people who are questioning their masculinity aged 10–28 support and activities that take their individual needs and starting points into account. Boys’ House activities often benefit young people who are looking for a positive mirror image of their own growth, new friends, support for life’s challenges, and meaningful activities in a safe environment.
Location: Helsinki, Kallio
2. Loisto Setlementti, The Girls’ House (NGO)
Loisto setlementti is a Finnish forerunner in youth work and has a long history of working with a gender sensitive and a culturally sensitive approach. Helsinki Girls’ House offers support and activities for girls and women aged 10–28, taking into account gender diversity and the right to self determination.
They strengthen young people’s participation in the community and society and make room for diversity and a more equal society where everyone has the right to find their own path and live a life that reflects who they are.
The Girls’ House highlight the diversity of girlhood and critically examine gender-related expectations, roles, and norms.
Location: Helsinki, Kallio
3. Sekasin kollektiivi, Sekaisin-chat (NGO, Online Work)
The aim of Sekasin chat is to ensure that no young person has to suffer alone. The chat is easily accessible via your own phone, even late at night. The service does not require you to log in or download any apps; you can chat anonymously via the sekasin.fi website.
Each chat conversation is scheduled for 45 minutes and is conducted one-on-one with a Sekasin operator. The goal is to strengthen mental well-being and offer support for mental health challenges and various life crises. This often means providing support and encouragement, comfort and reassurance, and searching for hope together with the young person. The approach is solution- and resource-oriented, and the goal is to support the young person’s own agency. The conversation is always on the young person’s terms: they decide what they want to talk about and how much they want to reveal about themselves and their situation.
Location: Helsinki, Pasila
4. Deaconess Foundation (Diakonissalaitos), Living room activities (Foundation)
Deaconess Foundation advocates for human dignity while renewing society. For nearly 160 years, Foundation have ambitiously developed creative solutions for individual daily life and societal challenges. They walk alongside and create encounters and communities where everyone finds their place.
The living room is a low-threshold meeting place for young people aged 18–25 who have come to Finland as unaccompanied minors.
The living room is for you if you want to organize programs or activities with others, want support or help with your studies or everyday matters, for example, or you want someone to talk to, want a place to spend time with others and want to meet new people. Adults interested in volunteer work, The living room is for you too! We offer everyone interested a variety of opportunities for joint activities and civic engagement.
Location: Helsinki, Kallio
5. Aseman lapset – Children of the Station, Walkers (NGO)
The core mission of Children of the Station is to support the safe growth of children and youth, enable the well-being of them and their families and inhibit social exclusion.
Children of the Station strives to react promptly to any changes taking place in the lives of youth. The work includes the teaching of emotional- and interaction skills, intervention in cases of school bullying, the encountering of youth in public spaces, mediation, support in cases of escalating criminal behavior and walking alongside our youth during challenging times and circumstances. The Walkers concept is based on the time and presence donated by adult volunteers.
The Walkers concept provides youth with safe environments wherein volunteer adults work in conjunction with professionals. In addition to fixed spaces such as youth cafes, a Walkers bus operates in the metropolitan area of Helsinki and five Walkers camper vans operate in variable areas elsewhere across the nation.
Location: Helsinki, Kamppi
Wednesday 22.4.2026, 1:45 to 3:00 and 3:45 to 5:00 (Choose one)
Package 1.
Finnish Red Cross, Youth Shelters (NGO)
The Finnish Red Cross is one of the largest non-governmental humanitarian organizations in Finland. They help people in vulnerable situations amidst crises and accidents.
Red Cross complement the assistance provided by the authorities. Youth Shelters will help you regardless of whether you are facing a sudden crisis or have long-term concerns. Youth Shelters help adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 29 as well as their family members and other loved ones.
The Youth Shelters provide help nationwide through Nettiturvis and locally they help the residents of five wellbeing services counties. Youth Shelters are a non-discriminatory place and are committed to equality in the work.
Location: Helsinki, Leppävaara
Helsinki City, Youth Services, Tiivistämö (Governmental)
Tiivistämö is an urban venue that plays host to a range of different events, from concerts to raves, dance competitions and trade fairs. Tiivistämö offers inspiring cultural and artistic experiences, as well as the opportunity to organize your own events in high-quality adaptable settings with the support of professionals.
In Suvilahti’s former existence as a gas plant, what is now an event space was used as a meter room for taking measurements and compressing gas. The space was used as part of the gas plant until its closure in the 80s, and it was fully renovated in 2014.
Location: Helsinki, Suvilahti
Package 2.
Helsinki City, Maunula House (Governmental)
Maunula House is a house for culture, learning, creating and spending time together, as well as a meeting place for visitors of all ages. The building houses four City of Helsinki services: cultural services, library, adult education centre and youth services.
They implement the Maunula House cultural programme together with local residents. Among other things, we host gigs, concerts, dance events, theatre performances, discussions and children’s events.
Location: Helsinki, Maunula
Blue Ribbon Foundation, Café Illusia (Foundation)
Café Illusia is a low-threshold, community-based meeting place located in the Vallila area of Helsinki. Their services are particularly designed for homeless people, people at risk of homelessness and adults who are active substance abusers.
Cafe Illusia in Helsinki serves small meals, such as porridge and coffee. Our facilities have a Wi-Fi connection, computer, phone and charging point for electronic devices. Our homeless guests can also store their belongings in lockers. At Café Illusia, you can spend time playing cards, reading, watching TV or just sitting in peace.
Location: Helsinki, Vallila
Package 3.
Kohtaus ry (NGO)
Kohtaus ry is a non governmental organization which is doing work with the young adults.
At Kohtaus, they celebrate community and the fact that no one needs to be left alone. It is important to find your own place, your tribe and something to inspire you. This is what the urban living rooms in Helsinki, are for. Welcome to visit, get to know people and participate in events when it suits you – even when the world is beating you down.
Location: Helsinki, Malmi
Helsinki City, Game House Sture and Rainbow activities (Governmental)
Game House Sture is a centre of targeted gaming activities maintained by Helsinki’s Youth Services. The activities are primarily intended for young people and young adults aged 15 to 25. Powerful gaming computers, a shelf full of console games, role-playing and board games. New, spacious, comfortable and stylish facilities. GameDev Club, LGBTQIA+ evenings and game events!
Gaymers’ night is intended for gamers aged 16-to-25 who belong to sexual and gender minorities. During these nights, the participants focus on independent playing alone or together with other LGBTQAI+ people
Location: Helsinki, Vallila
Package 4.
Stoppi, Stop Huumeille ry (NGO)
Stoppi (Stop Huumeille ry) has a long history of supporting the recovery of people recovering from substance abuse. They offer free, peer-based alternatives to substance abuse and want to promote the social inclusion and well-being of people recovering from substance abuse.
Activities include a meeting place in East Pasila, exercise, music activities, culture, excursions and events, peer service instructor training and volunteer activities, small group coaching and individual guidance for people with mental health challenges, outreach peer guidance in substance abuse rehabilitation facilities and residential units, and work activities.
The association’s activities are made possible by Stoppi’s peer and professional staff, as well as interns and volunteers. Community’s desire is to do meaningful work, where we meet people suffering from substance abuse and act as enablers of a new, better life.
Location: Helsinki, Pasila
Deaconess foundation, House of Hope (Foundation)
Deaconess Foundation advocates for human dignity while renewing society. For nearly 160 years, Foundation have ambitiously developed creative solutions for individual daily life and societal challenges. They walk alongside and create encounters and communities where everyone finds their place.
Working with undocumented people, they want to make sure that everyone in Finland feels valued and important as a member of the community. From the perspective of social peace, we carry special concern for the situation of those in vulnerable positions.
Hirundo is a day centre for Eastern European Roma people. In addition to tending to everyday matters, they provide social service and health care support for our clients. Hirundo is where they can safely come for a coffee, take a shower, do their laundry, use the internet, and eat their own meals. Hirundo’s staff also offer guidance and advice on using social welfare and health services.
Location: Helsinki, Herttoniemi
Package 5.
Deaconess foundation, Vamos (Foundation)
Deaconess Foundation advocates for human dignity while renewing society. For nearly 160 years, Foundation have ambitiously developed creative solutions for individual daily life and societal challenges. They walk alongside and create encounters and communities where everyone finds their place.
Vamos helps 16–29 year-olds towards school and
employment. This activity is voluntary and free of charge.
At Vamos, priority is given to the needs of young people, young people are cared about, and work is carried out jointly with municipal and other actors.
Young people at Vamos are allocated their own individual youth workers, who have the time to get to know them and their needs. Vamos is run in eleven cities throughout Finland.
Location: Helsinki, Vallila
Helsinki Missio (NGO)
Helsinki Missio volunteers and professionals support and help young people, adults, families and seniors in many ways. Their volunteer activities offer a variety of ways to get involved, to help people, to make a difference. All the assistance we give is confidential and free of charge.
At Helsinki Missio they work to ensure that no one is left feeling lonely. Their skilled employees, committed volunteers, and those who support our work – private donors, companies, foundations – make our work possible.
Location: Helsinki, Punavuori