Today, on December 5th, the International Volunteer Day, we proudly celebrate all volunteers who dedicate their time, expertise, and compassion to making a difference. At House of Helsinki, this day holds a special tradition – announcing the Volunteer of the Year (Vuoden vapaaehtoinen 2024 House of Helsinki).
REFUFIN-project
In our ongoing project REFUFIN, volunteers play an essential role in supporting individuals who fled the war in Ukraine. This support is provided through two main roles:
Online Support Volunteers: Helping with integration challenges, such as navigating Finnish society and accessing essential services, via online communication. So far in 2024, these volunteers have addressed more than 1250 help requests.
Offline Support Volunteers: Assisting newcomers in person with tasks like visiting the police, opening bank accounts, and more. These dedicated individuals have already handled 134 offline cases this year.
Additionally, volunteers can contribute in flexible ways, such as event organisation, public speaking, and training conducting, allowing them to expand their skills and interests while making a meaningful impact.
We are deeply grateful to all our volunteers for their invaluable contributions. Today, we celebrate every single volunteer at House of Helsinki and beyond. Happy International Volunteer Day!
Introducing the Volunteers of the Year 2024
This year, our selection process for the Volunteer of the Year 2024 was designed to allow everyone in our volunteer community to have a voice. In the first stage, volunteers themselves could anonymously nominate any other volunteer they believed had made a significant impact. This approach ensured that every volunteer had an equal opportunity to recognize their peers and highlight the contributions they found most inspiring.
Once the nominations were collected, we moved to the second round. All volunteers were invited to vote for their top choices from the list of nominated candidates, with the option to select up to three individuals.
After counting the votes, we are thrilled to announce that House of Helsinki has not one but two Volunteers of the Year 2024 due to a tie in the voting results!
Anton Kriukov
Anton is an incredibly active and dedicated participant in REFUFIN. His strong organisational skills and ability to manage crisis situations have made a huge impact on the project. Anton’s team spirit and commitment to helping others are deeply valued.
Anton is not just a skilled volunteer; he’s also a consistent presence at trainings and meetings for volunteers, where he actively engages, learns, and shares his insights. He regularly offers support to other volunteers, sharing his expertise and encouraging them in their roles, making him a cornerstone of our volunteer community. Contributions:
Joined the project in Fall 2023.
Took on 11 offline cases, contributing over 40 hours of that.
Participated in trips to Pori and Imatra, where he supported local Ukrainian communities by answering questions and addressing integration challenges.
Mariia Godunova
Mariia’s proactive approach and dedication make her an outstanding volunteer. She sets an excellent example by respecting personal boundaries while consistently supporting applicants, the project team, and fellow volunteers.
Mariia is deeply engaged in the volunteer community, actively participating in trainings and volunteer meetings. She willingly shares her knowledge and experiences with others, inspiring and supporting her fellow volunteers while contributing to a positive and collaborative atmosphere.
Contributions:
Joined the project in Fall 2023 as the first offline support volunteer, helping shape this role.
Took on 10 offline cases, dedicating over 20 hours of that.
Authored numerous informative posts for the project’s Telegram channel.
Represented the project at four major events, including Maailma Kylässä Festival and Ukrainalaisten Ilta.
Participated in trips to Pori and Imatra, offering face-to-face support to Ukrainian communities.
Anton and Mariia’s achievements highlight just a fraction of their incredible work for REFUFIN and society at large. We are honored to have such inspiring individuals in our team.
Congratulations to Anton Kriukov and Mariia Godunova, the Volunteers of the Year 2024! 🎉
Yorumlar