Lapsia-koulussaThis year Finns donated Yhteisvastuukeräykselle (Common Responsibility Campaign) a total amount of € 3 604 838.87. That’s a big success for the thousands of volunteers working on the campaign and it has showed once again that love for neighbors – no matter their origin or their faith – lives deep within Finnish people.

Yhteisvastuukeräykselle is a nationwide social movement based on the philosophy ‘love thy neighbour’ and the annual fundraising campaign of the Finnish Lutheran Church. It helps those in need in Finland and in developing countries. As a rule, 60% of the proceeds go into international development work and emergency aid through Finn Church Aid, 20% is used annually for specially chosen cause in Finland and 20% for diaconal work carried out by the Church and its parishes.

In Finland the Common Responsibility Campaign funds go towards expanding the “With a Big Heart’’ operations network of volunteers and to help those who are lonely, ill, in financial difficulties or those who are in other kind of challenging situations.

In Haiti the Common Responsibility Campaign helps children go to school. The Campaign will be among the partners whose donations will build new schools in Haiti. The schools will be designed to endure earthquakes and tropical storms. They will be powered by solar panels and the biogas that is the byproduct of toilet waste can be used to supply power to the school cafeteria or to provide biomass as fertiliser in the school garden. The aid will be delivered by Finn Church Aid.

More info about the Campaign can be found (English – Swedish – Finnish) here.