International Youth Encounter „Hei Suomi“
“Hei Suomi!” – a simple Finnish greeting or the starting signal for an unforgettable journey? In our case, both! As part of a European exchange meeting with the Finnish association Finpolar, the inspiring idea for our youth exchange project “Hei Suomi” (Hello Finland) was born. The basic idea behind “Hei Suomi” was not only the exchange between our associations in the field of children and youth work, but above all the creation of a bridge for curious young people from both countries.
From 17 to 24 December 2023, the long-awaited meeting took place. Together with ten young people and two supervisors, we set off for Helsinki, where we were already awaited by the members of Finpolar. A shared dinner provided the setting for a first getting-to-know-you and team building. Educational activities, workshops and excursions welded the young people together and also brought plenty of fun and a spirit of discovery. The participants' involvement in shaping the project was crucial from the very beginning.
In addition to the return visit of the Finnish young people, a long-term exchange is being planned. This includes not only cultural dialogue, but also the exchange of methods and experiences in the field of youth work. Moreover, a digital exchange platform was developed in order to maintain the connections and to continue joint activities across borders. We are grateful that this exciting project was made possible through the funding of the Landschaftsverband Westfalen Lippe (LWL).
