Global Light to Local Life

Global Light to Local Life

Have you ever considered volunteering abroad? My two friends and I began our volunteering journey in Finland. The Global Light to Local Life project primarily focused on filling and organizing leisure time for young people. However, the main reason was to prevent depression in adolescents and foster understanding among their peers.

Upon our arrival, project leader Hanna Kemppainen showed us around the youth center in Anjala. To start, we participated in several introductory activities that helped us get to know each other better and discover many interesting facts about one another. The goal for the first week was clear. Our task was to prepare and transform the entire area into a Christmas atmosphere. Families with children could then enjoy the Christmas atmosphere directly at the youth center. There were several activities for children to choose from, which our team had prepared. The most interesting ones included Santa's house, rope climbing, solving puzzles, and handicrafts.

During the weekend, we decided to visit another country – Estonia. Our journey led us to the capital of Estonia – Tallinn. We also visited the capital of Finland and tasted homemade mulled wine as well as local sweets. Both cities are beautiful, and each has its own charm.

In the last week, we were supposed to visit several youth centers throughout the Kouvola district. Unfortunately, this could not happen due to the worsening pandemic situation. Therefore, we decided to create an alternative online program for young people. We prepared several activities, which we then presented online. The offerings included various games, handicrafts, and cooking.

The Global Light to Local Life project was one big, unforgettable adventure for us. We are taking away many wonderful experiences and new friendships.