We encourage the event and congress organisers to create deep, sustainable relationships with academic, professional and local communities— not just during events, but in the long term as well. This will help to raise your profile within the community and leave a positive footprint behind.
Below are examples of different types of organizations, collaborations, and activities that will help you leave a legacy.
Environmental deeds
The goal of Helsinki City Strategy is to create a carbon-neutral Helsinki by 2030. When this goal is reached, operations taking place in Helsinki will no longer warm up the climate.
You can offset emissions of your event or from flying to Helsinki and e.g. with these services:
Drink our tap water instead of bottled water
According to UNESCO’s World Water Development Report, the water in Finland is the cleanest in the world. So it is safe to drink the tap water in Helsinki.
Venues and hotels
- Messukeskus is recycling and further utilizing 99% of its waste from exhibition mats to left-over food. In conference catering Messukeskus favors organic and local food and you can also order a five-star zero waste buffet that uses first class raw materials that have not been utilized.
- Finlandia Hall donates exhibition mats and other excess materials to Uusix workshops for recycling.
- Scandic Grand Marina and Marina Congress Center donates old bed covers, mattresses and pillows to animal shelter HESY and children’s clothes and toys to Hope Ry to support local families in need.
- Helsinki Congress Paasitorni is offering more vegetarian and vegan options and selling excess food through the ResQ app.
Environmental volunteer work
Congress delegates have the chance to contribute to the urban environment by engaging in volunteer work to help clean up garbage along our shores or remove invasive plant species. Volunteers should reserve between 3 and 4 hours for these tasks. The City of Helsinki supports this volunteer work by providing equipment and collecting the waste afterwards. Congress organisers should provide transportation to the site, work gloves for their own volunteers and possibly snacks. The City of Helsinki will identify suitable locations and provide instructions for the volunteers.
Further information: Armi Koskela, coordinator, volunteer work: [email protected]
Social responsibility
- Messukeskus offers an exceptional learning environment and working opportunities for students needing special support in co-operation with its partner Vocational College Live. The students with limited working capacities can, among other things, take care of cleanliness, help visitors with aid equipment and deputize at the stands.
- Scandic Marina Congress Center organize a Joulupuu “ChristmasTree” fundraising to provide Christmas presents for local families in need. Staff is visiting elderly people in local recreation center.
Donating leftover materials to Uusix workshops
Uusix (U6) is a pioneer in both rehabilitation work and environmental responsibility, and it is proud to present its activities to all interested parties. Uusix is a unit of the Helsinki City Social Services and Health Care Division that provides rehabilitative work for the unemployed. The activities of the Uusix workshops are characterised by ethical standards and sustainable development, values that it adheres to in the wellbeing of its members, the production of its products and environmental considerations.
The operating model of the Uusix workshops highlights the use of recycled materials to create new products. Recycled materials that are donated to the workshops are reused as diversely and innovatively as possible, and many items and materials that could have ended up in landfills have been given new life as Uusix products. The Uusix workshops have a particular need for materials that can be used as raw materials for recycled products, such as textiles, wood and metals. Smaller donations, such as decorations or coins, can be also be used to create new jewellery and textiles.
Finnish Red Cross fundraising boxes
Fundraising boxes for the Finnish Red Cross are available for congress venues. At least 10 volunteers are usually required for each campaign if fundraising is organized at congress venue. You can also create a online donation campaign. The funds that are raised go towards supporting the Disaster Relief Fund of the Red Cross with the aim of providing relief where it is most needed.
Further information: Finnish Red Cross, [email protected]
Activities to support SOS Children’s Villages
Help children grow with love, respect and security. To raise funds for this important cause, SOS Children’s Villages in Finland can arrange relaxing and fun activities for groups.
Contact: [email protected],+358 400 465020
Donations of goods, fundraising and aid bags together with Hope ry
Congress delegates can volunteer to help at Hope ry, for example by sorting through donations (recommended group size: 5-20 persons). Other activities include fundraising at congress venues, for example by filling aid bags with food and hygiene products.
Further information: Eeva Jäntti and Iina Kanerva, Hope ry team leaders in Greater Helsinki, tel. +358 40 965 3311
Outreach activities
Organisers may apply to use City Hall foyer for public lectures or outreach activities. It is well equipped event location at the city center.
Wellbeing
Charity fun run/walking event
If you are interested in organising a fun run or walking event to raise funds for charity, Runner’s High is ready to help. Runner’s High can handle the arrangements from start to finish or provide particular assistance, such as timekeeping equipment.
Further information: [email protected]