Organizational work has a very great social importance and national economic value.
- Finland cannot survive without voluntary work or, in general, organization work and social enterprises. And you do it. 3.2 billion is estimated as the value of voluntary work. Usually, this type of activity makes up for what society cannot organize. Mostly complements, but also replaces, said the first deputy speaker of the parliament, Paula Risikko (Kok.) in her speech.
The Settlement Union invited MPs to listen and discuss the settlement work and the possibilities of cooperation on September 4. Citizens' information for the Parliament's Little Parliament.
- The settlement movement is a dialogue movement. We are a bridge builder, and it is important for us to be in dialogue with politicians, stated Pentti Lemmetyinen, .
The versatility of settlement work is a surprise to many
The politically and religiously non-committed settlement movement is a multidisciplinary organization that works, for example, in the field of face-to-face work, crisis work, free educational work, employment and housing. It reaches people from childhood to old age. A total of 260,000 people were involved in the operation last year, of which 53,000 were in child and youth work.
Settlement work has a long, more than 100 years of experience and strong expertise in working with people.
- Organizational work complements public services and prevents marginalization. The versatility and effectiveness of our operations is a surprise to many, stated Executive Director Jussi Kemppainen in his speech to Vuolle Settlement.
Settlements promote regional well-being and deal with grievances in a timely manner. The Settlement Association has 32 local associations all over Finland.
- Our daily work is to solve customer challenges for which simple solutions cannot be found. From us, the person gets support and help before the problems become uncontrollable, said executive director Heidi Nygren from Kalliola Settlement.
Communalism reduces marginalization
The problems of our time are e.g. increased loneliness, exclusion and segregation development. Settlement work intervenes in even difficult problems in a practical way and thus promotes social peace and security.
- In all our houses, we invest in community. Communal Neighborhoods create safety and social sustainability. Suvi Tuomala, CEO of Setlementtiasunnot Oy .
The starting point for the design of houses and blocks of settlement apartments is to enable encounters. Reasonably priced apartments are available in 21 rental buildings in seven cities.
Finland cannot survive without organization work
The planned aid cuts for social security organizations sparked a lively discussion at the event.
- The help and peer support offered by organizations and its reduction may lead to serious human consequences, which the public sector cannot respond to with its own activities. However, organizations and volunteers are often the last support network for the weakest, stated MP Anna-Kristiina Mikkonen (left).
- I consider organizational work extremely important. But everyone has to participate in these talks for their own part, so that this ship of social debt can be turned around, said Member of Parliament Mira Nieminen (PS).
MP Krista Mikkonen (green) stated in her speech that she is very worried about the planned cuts in organization funding, because organizations can face a lot of people who do not trust public services and authorities.
- Settlement's slogan "Courageously on the human side" is exactly that. You also look where others can't see and don't even want to look. You will find people who need help the most, who have been rejected by society and who have no resources of their own. If this disappears, it will be much, much more expensive for society, Krista Mikkonen said.
The announcement has been published on the website of the Settlement Association on September 5, 2024: Announcement
