Neighbourhood Week celebrates community and neighbourly spirit. In Pasila, the programme has been built based on suggestions from the residents. In the Kalliola Settlement's initiative "100 Ideas for the Joy of Neighbourhoods" and the City of Helsinki's OmaStadi voting, Pasila residents wished for a neighbourhood event, flea markets and more green spaces, to name a few things.
Among other things, the Neighbourhood Week programme includes tours of the Helmet library storage area led by Mrs Varasto, a butoh dance performance at Pasila library, a communal cleaning event and the opening of the peace café Fredrika.
During the week, the Neighbourhood House Pasila will also open its summer backyard lounge and meeting place at Junailijanaukio. The programme features a neighbourhood bingo, a singalong and a pancake party. The backyard lounge is a space where you too can bring joy to your neighbourhood with your own entertainment. Additionally, the free urban gardening boxes will return to delight the residents of Pasila.
Neighbourhood Week will conclude on Saturday, 24 May, with a Park Party and Flea Market Day at Rauhanaukio and Pasila library from 10:00 to 14:00. The programme includes a bouncy church, DJ music, a pop-up backyard lounge, an open mic for Pasila residents' poems and stories, sambusa sales and an open blanket flea market – no advance registration is required.
Neighbourhood Week is based on the international Neighbours' Day concept. The goal of the event week is to enhance community spirit and prevent loneliness. In Finland, Neighbourhood Weeks were initiated by Kalliola Settlement, which strengthens local communities through Neighbourhood Houses in areas such as Pasila, Mellunmäki, Kallio, Espoon keskus and Matinkylä.
Pasila library's information specialist Satu Niskanen sums it up:
"Together with Pasila Neighbourhood House and other participants of Neighbourhood Week, we share the goal of strengthening local community spirit, promoting inclusion and creating space for residents' own initiatives. Neighbourhood Week is a great opportunity to achieve these goals together with the people of Pasila."
The events are free and open to everyone. You are warmly welcome to join us!
The full programme for the week(Link leads to external service) (in Finnish)