Friend Café FA

In the Helsinki and Uusimaa district (HUP), a new type of “Friend Café FA” activity was launched in autumn 2025 with the support of Lähi-Tapiola Uusimaa. In this activity, local branch volunteers and possibly an educational partner organize a Friend Café aimed at young people and young adults, meeting about once a week.

In addition to coffee and company, the café offers a presentation on an interesting theme, such as helping others, well-being, or preparedness. FA (EA in Finnish) refers to first aid, and at least in some sessions, participants learn first aid skills. This way, young people get a safe and inspiring moment together and learn something new at the same time. The group is led by 2–5 trained volunteers.

In autumn 2025, Friend Café FA operated in Tuusula, Porvoo, Hyvinkää, Lohja, and Rajamäki. These events have had an average of 10 participants each time. In Tuusula, through cooperation with Keuda, the Friend Café EA has attracted from 60 to 150 students weekly.

Next, Friend Café EA will be established in the Kallio-Käpylä, Kirkkonummi-Siuntio, and Myrskylä branches.

School cooperation created an attractive Friend Café in Tuusula

The Finnish Red Cross Tuusula branch started Friend Café EA in cooperation with Keuda vocational institute. A teacher acting as Keuda’s contact person gathered students interested in volunteering, arranged an information session about the Red Cross, and guided them to orientation materials.

Now, the Friend Café EA operating at the school attracts 100–150 visitors to each event with interesting topics (e.g., loneliness and community, well-being, preparedness and the 112 app, principles of safer spaces).
The Tuusula branch supports the activity and is always available on-site when needed, for example, to talk about first aid.

Contact person: Kaisu Tajakka, kaisu.tajakka@gmail.com 

Three Friend Cafés launched in Porvoo

The Finnish Red Cross Porvoo branch started three Friend Café EA groups in autumn 2025:

• Young adults’ preparedness group, contact: Laura Musta, laura.musta@gmail.com
• English-speaking movie group, contact: Maksym Bratochkin, maksymbratochkin@gmail.com
• English-speaking board game group, contact: Maksym Bratochkin, maksymbratochkin@gmail.com 

In the young adults’ preparedness group, participants gradually complete the Red Cross First Aid EA1 course as well as the basic courses of Vapepa (Voluntary Rescue Service), search and rescue, and emergency relief.

The English-speaking groups have reached many young adults who have moved to Finland. All three groups have attracted good participation, and volunteers have been excited about the new activity.

For more information about Friend Café FA activities: