Each year during the holiday season, MuniFin makes a charitable donation based on staff votes. This year two non-profit organisations receive a donation: we interviewed Eveliina Hostila of Hope ry and Liisa Partio of MIELI ry about their work. 

Hope ry (short for rekisteröity yhdistys, or registered association) is an organisation that works to ensure all children have an equal opportunity to live a good life. When families are financially struggling, children’s hobbies are especially at risk of being discontinued, or a child may have to miss out on fun activities like birthday parties. Sometimes families might not be able to buy necessities like clothes or hygiene products. 

“Each family has their own circumstance that causes a strain to their budget. We help single-parent families, low-income two-parent families, and families undergoing a crisis, such as one caused by a breakup, illness, disability, or the death of a loved one,” says Eveliina Hostila, Executive Director of Hope. 

Poverty can cause worry, exclusion from social circles and burnout. There is stigma associated with poverty, even though experiencing poverty is not anyone’s choice. 

Supporting children’s hobbies brings joy to the entire family 

Hope directs the donations for three causes. Donated items are distributed to families in need, and monetary donations are directed to Hope’s hobby support and other leisure activities. 

“Young people should be able to enjoy activities within their everyday life. But when money is tight, something must be cut. The number of applications for hobby support is constantly increasing; that is why we are directing MuniFin’s donation to the hobby program,” Hostila says. 

From the perspective of an adult, a missing toy or a hobby may seem like a minor thing. However, these things are particularly meaningful to children. A hobby can be a lifeline for a young person who at school feels like an outsider. It can also be a major part of their identity – for a young football player giving up their team and their jersey number can feel devastating. 

To help is to raise hope 

Each year, over 9,500 families ask for help, and most of them contact Hope several times a year. The organisation operates fully on donation funds. Volunteers also donate time to sort items, meet families, process hobby applications and help distribute donations. 

“The joy of receiving something is as strong as the feeling to be without something. Families often feel overwhelmed that someone really wants to help. It is amazing to see the power of people creating positive feelings: where there is a will, there is hope,” Hostila sums up. 

MIELI provides crisis help and strengthens mental health 

MIELI Mental Health Finland ry is a registered association that has been in operation for more than 120 years. The main mission of MIELI Mental Health Finland is to promote mental health and prevent issues. A core component of MIELI’s services is its 24/7 crisis hotline. 

“The need for help is increasing. Last year we received over 416,000 calls and were able to answer only every fifth call. People are distressed and worried, and topics cover a range of issues from personal relationships to livelihood, illness or simply coping with life. Serious issues, such as self-harm, are addressed on the hotline approximately 18 times daily,” says Liisa Partio, Communications Director of MIELI. 

MIELI provides help without a referral during the crisis centre’s reception hours and in the crisis chat service. In addition, MIELI coordinates the Sekasin Collective, which produces the Sekasin chat service for 12-29-year-olds. In Sekasin chat, receiving nearly 160,000 contacts annually, social and healthcare professionals and trained volunteers help young people solve problems. 

The holiday season can be challenging for mental health 

People can experience anxiety or loneliness during the holiday season. A time of the year perceived as a joyful celebration, spending time inside four walls can cause sorrow and conflicts. Some people spend the holidays alone, some for the purpose of avoiding harmful situations. 

Every year MIELI holds a fundraiser to help young people during the holidays. MuniFin’s donation is directed to crisis work so that as many people as possible receive help. 

Budget cuts increase the importance of donations 

Every other Finn experiences a mental health challenge over lifetime. Strengthening mental health is a task in which anyone can participate. The proportion of donations in MIELI’s funding is currently 10%, but in the future, the importance of donations will be even more crucial. 

“The Finnish national budget is being reduced under the current government. As a result, one third of the state subsidies to social and health NGOs will be cut. Changes will set in place as early as next year. I fear in the future these cuts cause more people to be left without the support they need,” Partio says. 

“It has been a pleasure to see companies and individuals make donations to ensure that our work can continue. It gives hope for the future. The significance of our work is evident in the feedback we get. Many are grateful to have someone who really listens to them – with an answered phone call, they have the strength to face tomorrow,” Partio continues. 

Nordic countries have made significant headway toward the green transition, but can they keep up with the U.S. and China? In the latest episode of MuniFin’s podcast, Chief Economist Timo Vesala invited experts to discuss the untapped potential of the green transition and how Finland stands to benefit from it.

The Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) keeps track of investment plans relating to the green transition in Finland. Compared to last year’s figures, there has been a massive increase from EUR 150 billion to EUR 272 billion in potential investments. While not all these projects will come to fruition, Janne Peljo, Chief Policy Adviser, Climate and Biodiversity at EK, estimated that EUR 58 billion worth of projects could be realised by the end of this decade.

While Finland trails behind Sweden in green transition, Peljo underscored that the country boasts unique assets on a global scale.

“When it comes to energy-intensive investments, our core strength is the availability and affordability of clean electricity as well as a reliable electricity grid. As for hydrogen economy investments, Finland and Sweden are European superpowers in the availability of bio-CO2,” Peljo said.

EU is ramping up green transition efforts

The guests discussed the EU’s strategy to keep up with the competition from clean energy world leaders, the United States and China.

“In recent years, the green transition has been driven more by the economy and technology than political leadership. The United States and China have got a head start while the EU has been lagging in green investments. Recently, EU politicians have emphasised the need for increased competitiveness, expedited permits, and responding to capital needs”, said Jaakko Haikonen, Senior Advisor at The Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK.

Towards the end of his presidency, President Joe Biden passed a substantial climate package that set new changes in motion. Regardless of the outcome of November’s election, U.S. leadership in clean energy is unlikely to waver substantially, given that the transition is headed by technology and industry efforts rather than politicians. Haikonen also reminded that support for clean energy transcends party lines, with Texas, a traditionally Republican state, leading all other states in this transition.

The next decade will prove crucial

Even though Finland has remarkable potential in the green transition, it is yet to be fully realised. Janne Peljo gave multiple explanations for the stagnation, such as the manufacturing downturn in Europe, inflation, and high interest rates.

To attract foreign investments, Finland is preparing tax subsidies for large industrial investments that promote the green transition. Both Peljo and Haikonen lauded the tax incentives as a much-needed tool to speed up investment decisions and acknowledged the need to ease permit processes.

“We need to expedite technically challenging industrial investments. The faster they happen, the more likely we are to succeed in attracting more of them. We can turn our dependable authorities and political system into a competitive advantage for Finland,” Peljo said.