Volunteering is rewarding
Paula Mäntysalo is an active senior volunteer for the Finnish Red Cross’s (FRC) Keski-Espoo (central Espoo) branch. She has participated in friend activities, language cafés, fundraising and blood donation events. Meaningful activities help keep her spirits up.
Paula Mäntysalo remembers one of the first friends she made through the Finnish Red Cross. The Afghan woman did not speak any Finnish, so at first her daughter interpreted their conversations. However, she was very eager to learn Finnish.
Paula took long walks, visited museums and attended various events with her.
“Somehow, we found a common language. She often invited me to her home for coffee, which gave her a chance to practise Finnish. Friendship does not depend on your cultural background, on the contrary,” Paula Mäntysalo says.
Paula became an FRC volunteer when she was approaching retirement. She was longing for a community to replace the one she had at the workplace.
She completed FRC’s basic course on friend activities, which gave her a good foundation for being a friend to a lonely person. The course also included guidance on what to do if you don’t seem to find a real connection with the new friend, but this has never happened to Paula.
Volunteer friends must know how to listen, as the goal of the activities is to focus on the other person’s issues, not your own.
“During the course, I learned that I don’t have to take responsibility for the new friend or carry their worries on my shoulders. I’m simply a friend, not a BFF – the most important thing is to be there for the person. What I enjoy most is just being together, talking about our lives and experiences, showing photos or watching TV together.”
A teacher likes to teach
In addition to friend activities, Paula Mäntysalo teaches Finnish to immigrants in the language café held at Entresse Library. This comes naturally to her, being a former English teacher.
Participants come from all over the world, including South Korea and Nigeria. Each group always has several teachers because the learners’ skill levels vary.
Mäntysalo and the other teachers plan a theme for the lessons in advance. For example, the lesson may focus on asking questions in Finnish.
Mäntysalo is also involved in the ‘‘Let’s read together” group.
“It's very rewarding when the learners want to make sure I’ll be there next time, too.”
Something for every day
Mäntysalo has also been a box collector and organiser of FRC’s Hunger Day collections. In addition, she contributes by making coffee at FRC’s blood donation events a couple of times a year.
Volunteers can independently decide what they would like to do and how often they would like to participate.
“But once you get involved, the activities require commitment and you must show up as agreed. If you need support, you can contact your branch’s liaison person.”
Mäntysalo believes that volunteering suits people who want to donate their time to a good cause.
“I need something to do every day; it keeps my spirits up. I want to help and do something good. Volunteering is the best way to do this.”
Examples of FRC’s volunteering activities:
- Friend activities
- ‘Let’s speak Finnish’ language cafés
- Youth activities (school cooperation, such as homework help, Espoo youth shelter)
- First aid activities
- Preparedness activities
- Blood service
- Branch Board membership
FRC has five branches in Espoo FRK Esbo Svenska(external link, opens in a new window), SPR Kehä-Espoon osasto(external link, opens in a new window), SPR Keski-Espoon osasto(external link, opens in a new window), SPR Lounais-Espoon osasto(external link, opens in a new window) and SPR Tapiolan osasto(external link, opens in a new window)
Text: Marjo Tiirikka
This article was originally published in the Espoo-lehti magazine 3/2025. Read other Espoo-lehti articles.