Finland

Emmaus in Finland

Emmaus has had a presence in Finland since 1964 and the movement now has four member groups in the country.  The groups are mainly made up of volunteers, there is only one “classic” Emmaus community in Finland. The Finnish groups work to meet local needs as well as to provide important support to associations outside of the country, notably in India, Africa and South America.

Origins

Starting in 1959, a small group of Finns began supporting the work of a Swedish organisation, Swallows, in India and Peru. In 1964, Birgit and Rurik Rancken set up a Swallows group in Ekenäs in south west Finland. They selected and prepared volunteers for the work in India and Peru, and organised discussions and provided information about the third world. Gérard Protain, a French priest committed to his work with the Emmaus rag-pickers in Lima, was expelled from Peru in 1962 as the authorities judged his work and views subversive. He then headed to Finland and helped set up the Emmaus Helsinki community in 1966, with Marita Uunila and the Friends of Emmaus. Students and adults worked together to help people living on the streets, to organise the collections and to manage the second-hand shops.

Main Activities

• Welcome, providing accommodation, reintegration
• Collecting, reusing, recycling and selling on objects
• Political campaigning and awareness raising
• Local, european and international solidarity initiatives

Secondary Activities

• Home collection service
• Craftworks, fairtrade
• Professional training
• Upcycling, joinery