Alkaa klo: 09:00
Päättyy klo: 12:00
Järjestäjä:
Valtiovarainministeriö ja sen kumppanit
Volunteering is about the willingness to do good and to work for causes that matter. Volunteers help, support and create opportunities for people to connect with one another. Often, volunteers are the first to arrive and the last to leave when we need each other most. Volunteering helps build a sustainable Finland and a sustainable world.
International Year of Volunteering
The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of Volunteering to highlight the importance of volunteering for sustainable development.
In Finland, we will celebrate the International Volunteer Day on Thursday, 3 December 2026, with a national celebratory seminar under the theme “Volunteering Brings People Together to Build the Common Good.”
The event is organised jointly by public sector and civil society organisations. We want to express our sincere gratitude to every volunteer for their contributions over the past year and encourage even more people to get involved in volunteering. At the same time, we wish to highlight the importance of volunteering for sustainable development and foster a better understanding of the future.
Time: Thursday, 3 December 2026, 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon
Venue: Parliament House and online participation
Target group: The celebratory seminar held at the Parliament House is an invitation-only event. Online participation is open to anyone interested in volunteering and its development.
Registration
Registration is now open and will remain open until 24 November 2026. You will receive an email confirmation and a calendar invitation once you have registered.
Register for the celebratory seminar
Programme
9.00 a.m. Opening remarks
The seminar will be opened by Member of Parliament and First Deputy Speaker Paula Risikko, who also serves as Chair of Parliament’s Support Group for Volunteering.
9.10 a.m. The UN International Year of Volunteering
9.25 a.m. Renewing Life and Society as a Source of Hope for the Future
The keynote speaker is Professor Arto O. Salonen, whose research focuses on the transition towards sustainable ways of living and a sustainable society.
10.00 a.m. Stories from Volunteers in Finland
Vice Chair Kyuu Eturautti will discuss how Tampere Kuplii, the feel-good comics festival recognised by the City of Tampere, is organised. Postdoctoral Researcher Aira Huttunen, Editor-in-Chief of the journal Informaatiotutkimus, will describe the importance of volunteer work in Finnish scientific societies and scholarly journals.
10.30 a.m. Panel Discussion: The State and Future of Volunteering in Finland and Around the World
The panel will feature Executive Director Rilli Lappalainen from Bridge 47, Secretary General Taru Savolainen from the Finnish National Commission on Sustainable Development, Founder Karoliina Kauhanen from Commu, Director Leena Suurpää from the Finnish Red Cross, and Executive Director Suvi Louhelainen from the Association of Finnish Local Heritage and Village Associations. The discussion will be moderated by Director Ilmari Nalbantoglu from Fingo, Finnish Development NGOs.
11.30 a.m. Joint Discussion and Closing Remarks
The closing remarks will be delivered by Director of Unit Niklas Wilhelmsson from the Ministry of Justice.
12.00 noon End of the Seminar
Further Information
You are welcome to make use of the UN’s volunteering materials in your own activities and explore events and initiatives taking place around the world through the information service. We also encourage you to take part in the discussion on a sustainable Finland through the National Dialogues taking place this autumn.
Organisers
The seminar is jointly organized by Citizen Forum, Miina Sillanpää Foundation, Finnish Development NGOs Fingo, Bridge 47, Finnish Olympic Committee, Federation of Finnish Learned Societies, and the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
