Icehearts, a youth work organization, is looking for an employee in Riihimäki. In Lahti, there are far more people joining the teams than can be taken.
The Icehearts association, which does preventive child protection work, relies on long-term work in combating the threat of exclusion of young people. The organization is currently looking for an employee for the youth activity to be started in Riihimäki.
Icehearts is an organization operating with public and donation funds, whose activities include, for example, team sports. In practice, the organization therefore implements sports activities for young people and children during the afternoons.
At the same time, the employee who coaches the sports team keeps in touch with the young people’s families and supports, for example, going to school. In Riihimäki, the intention is to establish a team for boys. The sport has not been decided yet. According to the Icehearts model, the teams are together for 12 years.
– The breeders looked after us, that we didn’t do anything stupid. It was nice to be able to do more than just homework at home after school.
– I was a bit like that guy in need of special help. The leader of the team at the time asked if I would be interested in something like this, where there were leisure activities and you could play floorball.
At first he wondered if there was any use in the effort.
– However, I noticed that I got support from the community and the group even with going to school, which started to go better, says Heikkinen.
Support at school and in families
In the Icehearts teams, the activities of the breeders are not limited only to the teams’ innings.
Supporting families is also a big part of Kinnusen’s work. He captains the football team for those born in 2007–2008 in Liipola.
– We talk, among other things, about educational matters, boundaries or the times when young people come home and call.
For example, many young people come from single-parent families, where there is little or no money for hobbies. Being in the team is free for young people.
Municipal funding is important
Icehearts operates in about 15 locations in Finland, including the capital region, Tampere and Turku. Local associations receive support from municipalities and foundations.
There are five teams in Lahti, one of which is a girls’ team. In total, there are about 80 young people involved. About half of the young people have parents with an immigrant background or backgrounds.
– Together with the teachers, principal and in some cases child protection, young people are selected for the team, for whom concerns have been noticed as early as possible. There would be far more visitors than we can take in, says breeder Tero Kinnunen.
Kinnunen hopes that more teams could be founded in Lahti. The city’s funding has a significant share, although money comes from donations and fundraising. At least this year, no new groups are coming.
After the Icehearts career, dreams and goals
Seemi Heikkinen still goes to Iceheats to play futsal. The plans for the future have not yet been specified, but there are dreams.
– I would like to become a peacekeeper and go abroad.
Miro Hietala has completed his Icehearts journey. He is currently studying for a bachelor’s degree in business administration and wants to graduate as a merconomist. His friends from Icehearts and his own trainer Tero Kinnunen are still part of his life.
– Last summer, when I moved to a new apartment, Miro and his friends wanted to come over. We drank coffee and the boys also wanted to do yard work. The friendship continues, says Kinnunen.