{"id":33301,"date":"2025-06-12T09:05:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T07:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isocial.cat\/?p=33301"},"modified":"2025-06-26T10:53:43","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T08:53:43","slug":"the-isocial-foundation-and-its-member-organisations-travel-to-finland-for-the-3rd-innotrip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isocial.cat\/en\/the-isocial-foundation-and-its-member-organisations-travel-to-finland-for-the-3rd-innotrip\/","title":{"rendered":"The iSocial Foundation and its member organisations travel to Finland for the 3rd Innotrip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\nPublications<\/a> News<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n

The iSocial Foundation and its member organisations travel to Finland for the 3rd Innotrip<\/h1>\n\n
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Featured Home<\/a>, <\/span>News<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n
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The visits to organisations and facilities in Helsinki and Espoo allowed us to gain closer insight into some pioneering initiatives in one of the countries with the most advanced social infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From June 2nd to 6th, the iSocial Foundation organised a new edition of Innotrip, the annual learning journey it promotes with its member organisations<\/strong> to explore international best practices in the social sector. This year\u2019s destination was Helsinki, with the aim of discovering innovative experiences currently being developed in Finland \u2014 a leading country in the implementation of the welfare state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trip offered a valuable opportunity to observe and reflect on advanced care models<\/strong> through visits to municipal services, social organisations and community initiatives that tackle key challenges such as poverty, disability, homelessness, mental health, and digital inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A focus on integrated, person-centred care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

he first day of visits took us to resources such as the Roihuvuori Senior Centre<\/a><\/strong> and Kallio Perhekeskus<\/a><\/strong>, which focus on supporting older adults and families through an integrated and preventative approach. We also explored municipal services aimed at mental health and youth at risk, as well as initiatives for caregiver training and peer support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the key takeaways from this first encounter with the Finnish social model was becoming familiar with its strong commitment to collaboration among stakeholders and to the active involvement of citizens<\/strong> in community-based care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mentorship, participation, and social impact evaluation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

LOn the second day, we discovered projects like Icehearts<\/a><\/strong>, which offers long-term mentoring through sports and education, and Vamos!<\/a><\/strong> by the Diaconia Foundation, which supports vulnerable youth. During this visit, we also learned about the use of social impact bonds \u2014 a tool to activate social projects more efficiently and quickly, involving private companies in the promotion of social wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, the City of Helsinki presented the Feedback-Informed Treatment (FIT) <\/strong>system to us, which integrates service users’ feedback to improve care quality. We also got to know Pokka<\/a><\/strong>, a platform developed by the organisation Kukunori, which is used by over 100 entities to evaluate the impact of social projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Housing, self-determination, and child protection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On the third day, we visited organisations such as Y-S\u00e4\u00e4ti\u00f6<\/a><\/strong>, a key promoter of the Housing First model in Finland, and Tukena<\/a><\/strong>, which advocates for self-directed support for people with disabilities. We also explored Rinnekodit<\/strong><\/a>, a residential facility located in a natural setting for individuals with high support needs, and the Barnahus <\/strong>model for integrated child protection services \u2014 currently being rolled out in Catalonia \u2014 giving us a valuable international reference for this system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These experiences provided tools to rethink how we can ensure dignity and autonomy for people in vulnerable situations, while promoting community-based approaches and respect for individual rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deinstitutionalisation and digital inclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The final day introduced us to two initiatives addressing access to community life and basic rights from different angles. On one hand, Kehitysvammaliitto<\/a><\/strong> (the Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) presented its work in the deinstitutionalisation process and the implementation of peer support networks. Through Peer Support Groups, people with disabilities share knowledge and experiences, strengthening both their autonomy and collective advocacy capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, the DigiUp<\/a><\/strong> programme, \u2014 led by the Moniheli network \u2014 works to reduce the digital divide among migrant populations. It trains digital facilitators \u2014 both volunteers and professionals \u2014 who offer guidance in basic digital skills, such as safe device usage and access to digital services. Both initiatives contribute to enabling more inclusive and equitable participation in social life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A shared experience with collective impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This journey was a unique opportunity to discover inspiring initiatives, identify shared challenges, and explore alternative approaches that can help strengthen social services in our own context. The time spent together over these five days of Innotrip and the chance to learn from some of Finland\u2019s most innovative social projects also fostered meaningful dialogue and collective learning among participating organisations<\/strong> \u2014 exchanges that will continue well beyond the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We at the iSocial Foundation would like to thank all the participating organisations for their active engagement and interest: ABD, AMPANS, Fundaci\u00f3 Fam\u00edlia i Benestar Social, Fundaci\u00f3 Joia, Fundaci\u00f3 Catalana S\u00edndrome de Down, Fundaci\u00f3 Resilis, Pere Claver Grup, Fundaci\u00f3 Idea, Fundaci\u00f3 El Maresme, FAFAC, Agintzari, REIR, Som Alba, Intress, Fundaci\u00f3 H\u00e0bitat3, Grup ATRA, Grupo SSI, Som Fundaci\u00f3, Fundaci\u00f3 Aspace Catalunya, Grup MIFAS.
We are also deeply grateful to all the Finnish organisations that welcomed us and generously shared their knowledge and experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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