The TyöNoste project improves the guidance and service pathways of people supporting employment in the South Kymenlaakso region. Our goal is to support the resolution of challenges related to the matching of the region's workforce, i.e. to help job seekers and jobs find each other better, and to prevent long-term unemployment. 

The project's target group includes guidance professionals working in various roles at Ekam and Rannikkopajo, such as

• study and career counselors
• Teachers guide students in making personal skills development plans
• special support teachers
• individual and work coaches and
• Outreach youth work instructors.

In addition, experts from business services and team managers and supervisors responsible for planning training at Ekam are involved. In the city of Kotka, the actual target group is people working in guidance work in different sectors and roles. This includes TE experts, coordinators, supervisors, municipal integration promotion personnel and Ohjaamo personnel. 

The objectives of the TyöNoste project are based on the needs of the business and labor market in South Kymenlaakso and the anticipation of changes in them. The general goal of the project is to develop individual and smooth service paths for customers who need support in finding employment. 

The concrete objectives of the project are: 

• Improves the skills of customer guidance experts who promote employment in the South Kymenlaakso region. 
• To enhance guidance into working life by supporting both the client and the employer in the key stages of employment and by creating a model for academic enrichment in companies. 
• To create a regional network and collaboration model that increases awareness among experts and stakeholders about opportunities for training and skills development. 
• Experiment with new skills recognition practices and agile coaching and training.

Results: The project measures support cooperation and coordination in guidance, improving the quality and competitiveness of services in the region. Guidance processes are smoother and more interactive, emphasizing individual strengths. Guidance skills and competence identification are also strengthened, which helps prevent long-term unemployment and makes services more efficient from the perspective of both individual and employer clients. 

Project duration: 1.10.2024-31.12.2026

Funder: ESF+

Implementers: South Kymenlaakso Vocational College and the City of Kotka

Project team:

Elina Jarvinen

Project manager

elina.jarvinen@ekami.fi , 0447236282

Susanna Eerola, career guidance expert

Jenni Sammatti, job training expert

Reetta Pasanen, specialist in academic enrichment

Email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname@ekami.fi.

In the Smart Village Kymenlaakso projects, strategies are developed for village groups based on pre-selected themes, i.e. thematic plans, on the basis of which individual villages or village groups are developed towards the Smart Village 2030 vision. The project is implemented as an inter-regional project throughout the Kymenlaakso region. 

Based on extensive mapping, the following themes have been selected: livelihoods of villages, village branding and developing the range of services offered by village halls or other community facilitiesThe overarching themes include a wide range of measures to develop the vitality of the village community and rural areas from a village-based perspective. 

In the project, experts will provide insight into the theme and organize workshops with committed village-level actors. These will result in innovative village strategies that will be tested during the project. 

The measures implemented during the project will benefit the entire province, promote the vitality and visibility of villages, and provide tools for developing livelihoods. The project will widely network different actors and create courage for new types of development work. This is also an important part of rural intelligence.  

Kymenlaakso Villages Association is implementing the interregional project in close cooperation with the region's Leader groups, municipalities, the Southeastern Finland University of Applied Sciences and other stakeholders. 

Project period 1.5.2024 September 31.12.2026-XNUMX August XNUMX. 

The project has received funding from the EU's Rural Development Fund through the region's Leader groups. The total cost of the interregional project is approximately EUR 210,000 and the subsidy is 100%. The costs are divided equally between the Leader groups.

Contact

Anna Koivisto (Kouvola)
anna.koivisto@kymenlaaksonkylat.fi
050 328 9165
Siru Ahopelto (South Kymenlaakso)
siru.ahopelto@kymenlaaksonkylat.fi
040 519 2375

The Vitality Factors – Youth and Nature Growth Program implemented by the Kaakonkulma 4-H Association is
a development project that responds to the simultaneous social, economic and ecological challenges of rural areas: limited employment opportunities for young people, lack of rural community
deterioration and vulnerability of biodiversity.

The project has now been launched!

The main goal of the project is to develop and pilot a new operating model in which young people can find employment and act as entrepreneurs in nature conservation and climate work.

The implementation area is the municipalities of Virolahti, Miehikkälä and Pyhtää and the cities of Kotka and Hamina.

The project's partners include the municipalities and cities in the project implementation area, as well as various nature associations and other actors.

Public funding covers 90% of the project costs, 10% consists of unpaid work and private funding. The project has received European Union rural funding through Leader Sepra and private funding from Metsä Group's nature project funding programme.

More information on the Kaakonkulma 4H association website at kaakonkulma.4h.fi/hankkeet/

#kaakonkulman4H#natureprojects#youthwork#leadersepra#forestgroup