Together with Organizations
In Varsinais-Suomi, organizations work for the benefit of people’s everyday lives and the vitality of the region. Cooperation brings together actors from different sectors around the same table and makes the region more inclusive and stronger.
In Varsinais-Suomi, civil society cooperation is a strong part of the region’s vitality, participation, and well-being. The region has a broad and diverse civil society sector that complements public services, creates community, and strengthens residents’ well-being. The new regional strategy recognizes the importance of organizations more clearly than ever, and they are involved in building a more sustainable and inclusive Varsinais-Suomi.
Civil society cooperation is carried out in an open and interactive spirit. The Varsinais-Suomi Civil Society Forum is a joint network and annual event for the region’s organizations, bringing together actors from different sectors. The events are open and free of charge, and their aim is to increase participation, cooperation, and joint action across sectoral boundaries.
The forum’s work is guided by the Civil Society Committee, which serves as a cooperative body and advocate for organizations. The committee brings together civil society actors, promotes regional dialogue, and ensures that the expertise and voice of organizations are heard in Varsinais-Suomi’s decision-making and development work.
Civil society cooperation in Varsinais-Suomi is above all partnership and working together, which increases well-being, strengthens democracy, and builds a vibrant region.
Tools for Organizations and Civil Society Cooperation
The association program model supports municipalities when they prepare and cooperate with organizations and associations operating in their area.
The self-assessment tool guides organizations to examine the quality and adaptability of their own activities through an electronic survey and background materials.
The municipal cooperation checklist for associations supports the cooperation of associations and organizations with municipalities: from one’s own activities to equal partnership!
Participating in the Civil Society Forum
The actors listed have participated in our joint events or work. The list is not complete, so please inform us if you notice any omissions.
4H Association
Aneljäviis
Aurajoki Foundation sr.
Auralan Nuoret ry / Turku Girls’ House
Auralan Settlement Association
Chorus Cathedralis Aboensis ry
Daisy Ladies ry
Pensioners’ Federation Varsinais-Suomi District
Life Skills and Parenting Support ry
Living Culture Koroinen ry
Non-Custodial Parents’ Association
Folkhälsans Förbund r.f.
Hirvensalo Homeowners’ Association
I Samma Båt – Samassa Veneessä r.f.
Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities
Civil Society Social and Health Care Project 113
House of Books – Bokens hus ry
Finnish Association of the Deaf
Kähärlä Homeowners’ Association
Laitila Elderly Support Association
Lavamäki Village Association
LEADER Varsin Hyvä
LEADER Ykkösakseli
City of Lieto
Lieto Youth Association
Regional State Administrative Agency for Southwest Finland
Southwest Finland Muscular Dystrophy Association
Southwest Finland Sports and Athletics LiikU ry
Southwest Finland Scout District
Southwest Finland Cancer Society
Lounatuulet Community House ry
Permission to Help Project, LAPE Change Program V-S
Western Finland Non-Custodial Parents ry
West Coast Pioneers ry
Western Dance Regional Center Association
Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, Varsinais-Suomi District
Masku-Rusko-Vahto, Naantali and Turku 4H Associations
Mietoinen Church Area Villages ry
MTK-Varsinais-Suomi
City of Naantali, Sports Services
Ollila Area Village Committee
Operation Food Bag ry
Sivis Study Center
Paimio Civil Society Forum
City of Paimio, Leisure Services
Paimio-Sauvo Heart Association
Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association
ProAgria Varsinais-Suomi / Southwest Finland Rural and Home Economics Women ry
Red Cross, Kaarina Branch
Raisio and Southwest Coast Tourist Guides ry
City of Raisio
City of Salo, Village Project
SBS Virmo
Salo 4H Association
Salo SYTY ry
Salon Viesti
SRL Southwest Finland
Finnish 4H Federation
Finnish Dystonia Association, Turku Region Peer Support Group
Finnish Nature Conservation Association Varsinais-Suomi District
Finnish Detached House Association Varsinais-Suomi District
Finnish Red Cross, Varsinais-Suomi District
Finnish Floorball Federation
Taito Varsinais-Suomi ry
Economy and Youth TAT ry
TSL Turku
Tukenasi ry
Turku Academic Women ry
Turku University of Applied Sciences Student Union – TUO
City of Turku
City of Turku, Welfare Services
City of Turku, Youth Services
City of Turku, Leisure Services
Turku Neighbor Service Association
Turku Youth Council
Turun Riennon Figure Skating ry
Turku Literary Arts Association
Turku Region Autism and ADHD Association Aisti ry
Turku Region Epilepsy Association
Turku Region Support for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Turku Region Joint Association
Turku Region Family Caregivers and Relatives ry
Turku Region Rheumatism Association
Turku Region Back Association
Turku Region TST ry
Turku Region Disability Organizations
Turku Region Elderly Support Association
Turku Heart Association
Turku Artists’ Association
Turku Vesaiset
New Design Association
Valonia
Valonia, Environmental Education Association Haavi
Varsin Hyvä ry
Varsinais-Suomi Pensioners’ Organizations Council / Pensioners’ Federation Varsinais-Suomi District ry
Varsinais-Suomi Folk Music Association
Varsinais-Suomi Villages ry
Varsinais-Suomi Handicrafts and Arts Association
Varsinais-Suomi Children’s Association
Varsinais-Suomi Child Welfare Organizations
Varsinais-Suomi Regional Council
Varsinais-Suomi Nature Conservation District
Varsinais-Suomi Mental Health Relatives – FinFami ry
Varsinais-Suomi Memory Association
Varsinais-Suomi Young Eagles ry
Varsinais-Suomi Visually Impaired ry
Varsinais-Suomi Self-Employment Support VOTTY ry
Varsinais-Suomi War Veterans District
Varsinais-Suomi Disability and Chronic Illness Organizations VAPI ry
Varsinais-Suomi Estonia Center ry
Single Parents’ Association
Yliskulma Village Association
Åbolands hantverk r.f.
Åbolands Ungdomsförbund r.f.
The Regional Cooperation Group MYR established the Civil Society Committee under its auspices in 2019. The Civil Society Committee implements the Varsinais-Suomi Regional Strategy by serving as a cooperative body and advocate for Varsinais-Suomi organizations and as the owner of the Varsinais-Suomi Civil Society Cooperation Roadmap.
The Civil Society Committee’s task is to:
- promote the implementation of the Varsinais-Suomi Civil Society Cooperation Roadmap, regularly update the roadmap through a participatory process, and monitor the impact of the roadmap work.
- organize the annual Varsinais-Suomi Civil Society Forum event.
- ensure geographically and actor-type cross-cutting dialogue and consultation in the Varsinais-Suomi civil society sector through the Varsinais-Suomi Civil Society Forum network and local contacts.
- implement active cooperation with official preparation on communication and cooperation issues concerning the civil society sector.
promote cross-sectoral civil society-municipality-region cooperation through surveys, events, workshops, training, expert exchanges, association presentations, and other means. - ensure advocacy for the civil society sector by highlighting the expertise of associations and organizations both within and outside the civil society sector (municipalities, funders, media), for example by issuing statements or making positions and initiatives.
- act as the collective, common voice of organizations in regional situations related to legislation and organization-specific issues, and as an interpreter of the “people’s voice” in these, for example by issuing statements.
- promote good interaction, learning among organizations, and constructive encounters between actors.
- invest in civil society sector communication through openness of information and information dissemination, utilizing the järjestöfoorumi.fi website and the expertise of organizations, with the particular aim of increasing information that promotes cooperation and obtaining funding, as well as branding civil society activities.
