Review of the project year: Children's activity and well-being were promoted in Hamina

In the spring of 2025, the city of Hamina received state funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture for three projects promoting the health and well-being of children and young people. Now the project period is coming to an end for all three projects, and it is time to review what has been accomplished in the project year. 

HAMINA HOBBY MODEL PROJECT

The Hamina hobby model project implemented a total of 18 weekly hobby groups. In addition, during the season, sports trials were organized for middle school students, as it has been more challenging to get middle school students involved in regular hobby activities. In the sports trials, young people were able to try out the gym, circus, skiing, horseback riding, climbing, airsoft, boating and fishing. Thank you to the local hobby operators for their cooperation in implementing the sports trials!

We also wanted to offer every 7th-9th grader in Hamina gym, swimming pool and cinema tickets, which support the well-being and leisure activity of young people and exercise. In addition, we have purchased various equipment for youth facilities that activate physical activity, such as juggling equipment, which has been popular with young people.

The Hamina hobby model project received a €72,000 extension for the next season. The hobby activities for the 2026-2027 school year have already begun to be planned based on the hobby survey of children and young people carried out in the winter. The new hobby season starts in September!

MOBILE SCHOOL PROJECT

During the project period, movement has been added to the school day in many different ways. The monthly Moving School tips have provided schools with easy ideas for adding movement to the school day. Training has been arranged for staff on supporting a physical lifestyle, and a local curriculum document was developed with the OPS working group consisting of teachers and principals to promote a physical lifestyle. The project has been supported by a network of responsible teachers, who also participated in the national Moving Through Life seminar. Välkkäri trainings were also arranged at five schools, as a result of which approximately 80 students were trained as break-time movement teachers. In addition, the project applied for and received a Google Community Support grant, which was used to purchase interactive iWall physical game walls for comprehensive schools.

The impacts of the project period are visible in the annual Mobile School current status assessments conducted by schools, which noted clear progress in the organization of activities, teaching, participation, and promotion of after-school physical activity compared to the last academic year.

The Mobile School & Move! project in Hamina has received a government grant of €41,000 for the upcoming project period 2026-2027. The project is funded by the Finland on the Move programme, which aims to turn mobility into growth in every age group.

PATH TO SOCIAL ACTIVITIES PROJECT

During the project period, cooperation between the city and clubs and associations has been promoted. Hamina's recreational opportunities have been made visible to families to make it easier to find hobbies. The sports trials organized during the project have enabled hundreds of free exercise sessions, introducing children and young people to different sports. Schoolchildren have been able to try out different sports, from football to figure skating and from skateboarding to tennis. The sports trials have been organized in cooperation with clubs and associations in the area. Thank you to the partners!

Based on the feedback collected during the project, two hobby bulletins were produced during the project, summarizing hobby opportunities. The latest hobby bulletin, presenting summertime hobby opportunities, was published at the beginning of May. The bulletin can be found in Wilma and on the city's website.

The Path to Club Activities project is funded by the Finland on the Move programme.

Read more about Hamina's recreational opportunities at https://www.hamina.fi/kasvatus-koulutus/nuorten-hamina/harrastaminen/.