Work in Finland
Social counseling and relief work
Caritas Finland supports people living in Finland and helps those in need in many ways.
The central location for domestic operations is the Caritas office in Meilahti, Helsinki at Kuusitie 6. If necessary, we operate around the country.
- social counselling
- surplus food distribution and clothing assistance
- distribution of food vouchers and camp grants
- Friendship cafe
- youth activity YoungCaritas
Social counseling
Caritas offers social counseling to everyone in need. You can ask social advisor Hannele Liukkonen for advice in Finnish, Swedish or English, for example on issues related to social security, health services, housing and employment.
She can be contacted by phone at 040 256 6275 or by email at hannele.liukkonen@caritas.fi.
Food distribution and clothing aid
Surplus food distribution is organized at the Caritas Finland’s office twice a month on Mondays. The distribution is carried out together with the Stadin Safka network. You can find more detailed information about the distribution times on the Events page.
Caritas sells recycled clothes in its store. They come to us in cooperation with, for example, Inditex, which runs Zara stores. You can take donations to any Zara store collection box. Full boxes are transported to us and their contents are sorted. We sell or donate clothes in good condition to needy families and other people in need. We recycle clothes in poor condition responsibly.
You can also bring clothes in good condition to be sold directly to the Caritas shop.
Food vouchers and camp grants
Food gift cards: Caritas distributes food gift cards especially at Christmas time in cooperation with Catholic parishes. Food gift cards can be donated via our website: donate to domestic social work.
Camp grants: Caritas annually supports dozens of children and young people in camp fees. Support is granted for various camps, such as diocesan confirmation camps and recreation and hobby camps. You can apply for camp support all year round, but summer camps have priority. For other camps, support is granted if there are funds left after the summer camps.
We need donations from individuals and companies to support the camp. We warmly thank all supporters and donors who make this valuable activity possible. Donations to children’s and youth camp activities can be made through our website: Donate to domestic social work.
Applying for camp support: Apply for camp support from a Caritas social worker. If you need support for your children’s camp fees, contact Hannele Liukkonen by email: hannele.liukkonen@caritas.fi.
Friendship cafe
At the Caritas office, a Friendship cafe open to everyone is organized every month. It offers a meeting place and a sense of community. The cafe also organizes trips to different destinations. Café hours and excursion schedules can be found on the Events page.
Volunteer development project
The project, funded by the German Bonifatiuswerk, develops Caritas Finland’s volunteer activities and cooperation with parishes and volunteer organizations. We are also trying to gather a group of Caritas ambassadors around Finland.
YoungCaritas-toiminta
YoungCaritas-ryhmä on suunnattu nuorille aikuisille, jotka haluavat tehdä vapaaehtoistyötä ja auttaa muita. Ryhmä osallistuu Suomen Caritaksen kotimaan projekteihin ja on mukana muun muassa joulu- ja pääsiäisbasaareissa, hävikkiruokajakelussa sekä muissa tapahtumissa.
YoungCaritaksen toimintaa ohjaavat karitatiivinen työ, kestävä kehitys ja yhdessä tekemisen ilo. Nuoret edistävät myös rauhaa ja sosiaalista oikeudenmukaisuutta omilla ideoillaan. Voit seurata YoungCaritaksen toimintaa sosiaalisessa mediassa instagramista.
Previous projects
My equal life project, which brings Bangladeshi photographer GMB Akashi’s photographs that deal with inequality to Finland. The project includes almost twenty photographs and stories related to them. The pictures and stories are on display both on the My equal life website and in an exhibition traveling to different locations in Finland. Reflection material has also been prepared in connection with the project, which deals with inequality and its reduction.
DUUNI – Parenting skills as a strength in working life
The project supported young parents in finding employment and developing working life skills. It also added parenting skills. Read more about the project.
Kymppi project
The project focused on corporate social responsibility was implemented in cooperation with the Helsinki Deaconess Institute, Filantropia and Filoxenia. The project ended at the end of 2022. The project materials can be found on the project website.
Be the change! -campaign
The campaign aimed at young people challenged young people to be part of the change towards a better world. The campaign materials can be found on the project pages.