Do you think that elderly people living in care centers should have more mental stimulation and opportunities for social activities? Have you tried helping them? Now you have a chance to make a real difference: The Make Me Happy! campaign is looking for participants to make older people happy by visiting care centers in the Oulu region. Come and take part; even small acts make a big difference.
Kaleva and the volunteering division of the Deaconess Institute of Oulu are challenging companies, organizations, associations, educational institutions, and sport teams to make older people happy. The goal is to bring some joy to the everyday lives of elderly people and introduce a sense of caring and community to the new Oulu.
The campaign to make elderly people happy has even raised interest at the European Commission. As a result, the Commission published a news article on the Make Me Happy! campaign on their themed website for active ageing and solidarity between generations at http://europa.eu/ey2012/ey2012main.jsp?catId=975&langId=en&mode=initDetail&initiativeId=734&initLangId=en.
Take part as a group, in pairs or by yourself
You can take part in the campaign as part of a group, with a friend or by yourself. Participation only requires one visit to an elderly person or group of people. The visit can involve just chatting with an elderly person, reading a magazine to them, singing to or with them or participating in outdoor activities together. You can also get involved with the help of your work community by organizing a team day, for example. You can visit elderly people at the care centers and homes of the City of Oulu, the Caritas Foundation, Oulun Palvelusäätiö (Oulu Service Foundation), Mäntykoti and the Deaconess Institute of Oulu.
Pay it forward: challenge your friends to take part
Registration for participation in the campaign will be open until the end of March. The visits will be carried out during 2013. To participate, please fill out the registration form at http://www.kaleva.fi/ookkonaa/tapahtumat/ilahduta-mut-haastekampanja/617676/
When you register, you can also challenge other people get involved and do their bit. By the end of February, a total of 68 organizations, associations, educational institutions and sport teams had already registered to take part, including Nokia Oyj Oulu, Northern Ostrobothnia Center for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Oulu City Theatre, the Oulu offices of the Mehiläinen Health Care Centre, Oulu OP Bank, University of Oulu Student Union, AC Oulu and Etta Volleyball Club. You can find a list of all participants and the people they have challenged to take part on the campaign website, which can be found on the website of Kaleva under the Ookkonää theme site (only in Finnish).
For more information, please contact:
Minna Ruokangas, Volunteering Coordinator
Deaconess Institute of Oulu , tel. +358 50 312 5795 minna.ruokangas@odl.fi
Jaana Ojala, Project Manager, Kaleva, tel. +358 44 799 5885 jaana.ojala@kaleva.fi
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The 100 Acts program brings Oulu Region municipalities together and gives everyone the opportunity to highlight small and large actions that take the area forward and bring joy to the population. Take a look at the 100 Actions program and enter your own project or candidate at www.oulu.com/100tekoa