Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association –
activities and networks in the
Baltic Region
Karolina Mackiewicz
Prague, 25.02.2013
Agenda
1. Activities of Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association
2. Why volunteerism matters?
3. Volunteerism in municipalities – Finnish examples
Agenda
1. Activities of Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association
2. Why volunteerism matters?
3. Volunteerism in municipalities – Finnish examples
1. Activities of Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association
WHO Collaborating Centre
for Healthy Cities and
Urban Health in the
Baltic Sea Region (since 2002)
MEMBERS of BRHCA:
- City of Turku,
- University of Turku,
- Åbo Akademi University,
- Turku School of Economics,
- Social Insurance Institution of
Finland.
1. Activities of Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association
GOALS OF THE ASSOCIATION:
• to support the cities in implementing WHO Healthy Cities goals and
motivate new cities into joining the networks;
• to build the capacity for health and well-being on a local level by
networking with appropriate institutions and organizations;
• to enhance the visibility of the Healthy Cities operations and
communication;
• to network with local, national and international
health and well-being experts to share best practices
and expertise.
1. Activities of Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association
• to network with local, national and international health and well-being
experts to share best practices and expertise
WHO Healthy Cities network (cities, National Networks,
sub-networks);
European Public Health Alliance (EPHA);
WHO European network for promotion of health-enhancing
physical activity (HEPA);
Union of the Baltic Cities (UBC);
Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social
Well-being;
TAFISA – The Association for International Sport for All
World Health Communication Associates (WHCA)
1. Activities of Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association
HEPROGRESS : Reducing health related social and gender inequalities and
barriers to social and economic participation - Evidence based local policies.
Actions in: Østfold County (Norway) and Vidzeme Region ( Latvia)
1. Activities of Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association
The project Healthier People – Management of Change through Monitoring
and Action contributes to the reduction of premature mortality of preventable
causes in St Petersburg and in North-West Russia by supporting the institutional
capacity building and networking of key stakeholders in the field of health and social
protection.
The specific objectives of the project are:
1) To measure the number of Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) in the pilot area;
2) To improve methods for the "management of change" locally and regionally;
3) To strengthen the understanding of the importance of "healthy choices" locally
and regionally.
Agenda
1. Activities of Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association
2. Why volunteerism matters?
3. Volunteerism in municipalities – Finnish examples
Healthy Cities principles and values (Zagreb Declaration, 2008):
• Equity
• Participation and empowerment
• Working in partnership
• Solidarity and friendship
• Sustainable development
Ladder of participation (Based on Veneklasen and
Miller classification, 2002) (TP or M: Token participation
or manipulation)
2. Why volunteerism matters?
Health and health equity in all policies
Carrying and
supportive
environments
Healthy
living Health urban
environment
and planning
Creativity Happiness Wellbeing Quality of life
Core themes of Healthy Cities’ Phase V (2008-2013)
2. Why volunteerism matters?
2. Why volunteerism matters?
• Redefinition of the roles and responsibilities of national and
local governments
• Reductions in budgets of public administrations
• Urbanization - in Europe 80% of population live in the cities
• Alienation – depression and in general poor mental health
• Aging population – challenge for health care system
• Boundaries for the pension system
Agenda
1. Activities of Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association
2. Why volunteerism matters?
3. Volunteerism in municipalities – Finnish examples
3. Volunteering in municipalities – Finnish examples
Main areas of voluntary work in the municipalities (e.g. Turku):
• First aid group:
- support of the events in the city
• Friend group:
- mainly with elderly people
• Immigration group:
- work in the reception centres
• Emergency response group:
- cooperation with authorities, psychological and material
support for the victims of accidents, fires etc.
3. Volunteering in municipalities – Finnish examples
Main areas of voluntary work in the municipalities:
• Support group:
- help for the stroke patients and children and adolescents
with specific language impairment and their families in
coping with the daily life
• Peer support groups:
- supports the patients with the same health problems
• Social activities group:
- organizes club activities, lectures, advice services, trips
• Administration group:
- administration of the association, decision making, fund
raising, advisory board
3. Volunteering in municipalities – Finnish examples
Medieval market is an cultural event, organized every year in Turku.
It is organized by the City of Turku, but the volunteers play a key role in it.
Role of the volunteers:
• Participation in organisation of the event:
- construction work, preparing the area, contacts with media
• Actors, dancers and hostesses during the event
• Cleaning
3. Volunteering in municipalities – Finnish examples
Turku was a European Capital of Culture in 2011.
Most of the events were organized by the City of Turku through the Turku 2011
Foundation.
However the evaluation study showed that following stakeholders were
involved in the Turku 2011 programme on the voluntary basis:
- schools;
- day care centres;
- associations;
- individuals, families, work communities;
3. Volunteering in municipalities – Finnish examples
Few words of conclusion:
- Volunteers and NGOs play a key role in keeping the municipal work going on
(either in social services, cultural services or sport services);
- Many activities or events would not be possible without the volunteers;
- We don’t know what are the economic benefits from the voluntary work in the
municipalities;
- It is a challenge to keep the motivation of volunteers high;
- Rotation of the people;
- Most of volunteers work for satisfaction;
- Also ‘’points in the CV’’ are seen as motivation,
especially among young people.
Karolina Mackiewicz
Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association
Tel. +358 40 5075 069
Thank you for your attention!