Kontula Branch Restart

The Kontula branch had been without regular activities for about five years. The restart has been prepared within HUP in collaboration with Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. The project gained momentum in autumn 2025 when university intern Carla Käyhkö was appointed to coordinate it.

HUP’s goal has been to pilot a new model in the Kontula branch, where the board could consist primarily of students and operate in English or bilingually in English and Finnish. A major step forward was taken when the new board was elected at the extraordinary meeting on October 25, 2025.

At the meeting, the 2025 annual report, the 2026 action plan, and the budget were reviewed. Finally, a new board was elected, with all seven interested members of the Kontula branch unanimously appointed. The meeting was held in English, which was groundbreaking in the context of board elections within the Finnish Red Cross.

The new board will continue the extraordinary meeting on Saturday, November 8, 2025, with the goal of electing the branch’s chairperson and vice chairperson.

Preliminary plans for the Kontula branch include launching friend activities and support services for immigrants. Of the nearly 25,000 residents in the Kontula area, over 40 percent are non-native speakers, making multilingualism a natural feature for the branch.

Are you interested in volunteering in Kontula or nearby?

If you’d like to get involved in the Kontula branch, follow its event announcements in Oma.

Messages have already been sent via Oma to volunteers living in the Kontula and Mellunmäki areas. If you haven’t received any messages recently, please check your address details in your Oma profile or contact Carla at: carla.kayhko@redcross.fi