Getting to know You: The Ikiliikkuja project produces well-being and meaningful experiences 

Getting to know You is an article series about Helsinki Sports Services’ partners and sports service employees that work with sports clubs. Laura Tunkkari, Employment Coordinator of the Capital Region 4H Association, brings young and elderly people together in the Ikiliikkuja project.

The aim of the Capital Region 4H Association’s Ikiliikkuja project is to promote older people’s mobility and ability to function. The project employs young people aged 15–28 as sports champions to encourage older people in Helsinki to exercise.

“The aim of the project is to reach older people who need to find joy in exercise. This is what we can offer with our sports champions,” says Laura Tunkkari, Employment Coordinator of the Capital Region 4H Association.

The Ikiliikkuja project aims to improve older people’s ability to function and to employ young people for meaningful work.

“In addition to physical activity, there will be intergenerational encounters. The social aspect of the meetings is very important for both customers and sports champions,” Tunkkari says.

The Ikiliikkuja project just started its fourth project period, and Laura Tunkkari has been the project leader since January 2024. In the third project period, Ikiliikkuja employed nine young people and in the fourth period, there are already 15 active young people participating in the project. The number of older people involved in the project is also well on the rise.

The Capital Region 4H Association provides activities for children and young people aged 6–28 in the area of Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo. The association’s club and camp activities, working life and business training, and youth employment activities reach about 4,000 children and young people every year.

The Ikiliikkuja project complements the city’s service offering for the elderly

The Ikiliikkuja project is one of the activities funded with the help of the City of Helsinki’s grants for promoting physical and cultural activities for the elderly. The grants are awarded from the City of Helsinki’s escheats and have supported physical and cultural activities that strengthen the well-being, ability to function and inclusion of the elderly since 2021. This spring, a total of 2 million euros was awarded to 50 applicants.

Young people employed as sports champions in the Ikiliikkuja project meet the customer 10 times and investigate what kind of exercise is meaningful to the customer. Most often, the exercise consists of taking walks together or working out at home with the guidance of the sports champion. In the meetings, the customer and the sports champion also consider ways in which the customer could continue to exercise independently after the meetings.

The Ikiliikkuja project and other services offered by various organisations for the elderly complement the City of Helsinki’s service offering.

“The number of elderly people in Helsinki will increase in the future, which will put a strain on services for the elderly. We feel that by employing young people in assistive tasks, we can ease this strain. This facilitates the work of health care professionals and provides young people with valuable work experience,” Laura Tunkkari says.

Tunkkari sends her thanks to the City of Helsinki. In her opinion, the wishes of various actors have been openly listened to and responded to in the project package promoting the mobility of older people. The cooperation between the city’s sports services and other project actors has been productive, and help has always been available.

Laura Tunkkari finds the project work rewarding. The best part is the positive feedback from customers.

“We work in an important field and on a meaningful subject. Customers are genuinely grateful for their sports champions and feel that their physical ability and mood have improved.”