Free help and encounters
Free digital support offers seniors at risk of exclusion in particular the opportunity to strengthen their digital skills in their own homes. The action has succeeded in combining third and public sector cooperation in a way that can be scaled up to other parts of Finland.
"The model developed by HelsinkiMission and the City of Helsinki shows that digital support is not just about technology, but above all about meeting people. The model has been successful in strengthening digital skills while reducing loneliness and increasing inclusion. It is a concrete example of how the 'Digi first, but not alone' principle can be put into practice," says Minna Piirainen, Senior Expert at the Finnish Office for Digital and Population Information.
The Digitukiteko award was presented last week on Thursday 22.5. in Jyväskylä at the national networking days of digital support providers. The award is given annually for insightful and customer-oriented development of digital support and digital expertise. The award is part of the national digital support development work of the Finnish Digitisation and Population Information Office and is selected by a jury that changes every year. Last year, the award was given to the Mansikka ry´s "Handkerchiefs for All" campaign, which improved the availability of identity cards..
The power of cooperation in developing digital support
The theme of the Digital Technology Awards 2025 is "Cooperation". This year's award aims to highlight examples of successful digital support across silos. What unites the winners of the award and the honourable mentions is that they have worked together to deliver digital support in a people-centred and customer-focused way.
This year, the jury included Janne Viskari, Director General of the Finnish Office for Digital and Demographic Information, Leena Meriläinen, Rector of Jyväskylä Summer University and Elina Huerta, Project Manager of Mansikka ry.
The City of Helsinki's digital inclusion team has been developing free home digital support and digital literacy activities for seniors in cooperation with HelsinkiMission since 2021. The Helsinki Disability Association (HIY) has also been involved in developing home digital support.