Teemavuoden lähettiläät

Heikki Hursti

Heikki Hursti

Finland

When my father died on May 10, 2005, I continued his work on Veikko and Lahja Hursti’s Charitable Association. My parents started the organisation and the work has continued for 42 years. Today, I am the director of the association.

We distribute food and clothes for the needy twice a week. Last autumn, there were 950–1200 people who needed help in all of the events. Once a month we have a separate event to distribute clothes and food for students. Also, once a month we have professional hairdressers cutting and colouring hair for free. In addition, we send food and clothing packages all around Finland to places where help is needed.

Our most widely known events are the Independence Day reception for poor in Hakaniemi square and Christmas party for poor and lonely on Christmas Eve in Töölö Sports Hall.

Aim for the EY 2010
My aim for the European Year is to contribute by my own example and invite others to join the work. It is important that decision-makers as well as everyone else participates. Love will find its ways.
 

I became an ambassador: I regard combating for poverty and social exclusion as an important issue, because in my work I see people suffereing every day.