{"id":19938,"date":"2022-07-11T13:22:27","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T10:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.helsinkimissio.fi\/schooltobelong\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T13:11:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T11:11:57","slug":"schooltobelong","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.helsinkimissio.fi\/en\/schooltobelong\/","title":{"rendered":"School to Belong"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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SCHOOL TO <\/p>
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BELONG <\/p>
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ENGAGE THE WHOLE SCHOOL TO END LONELINESS<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Loneliness is an issue at every school. Which is why we created the School to Belong<\/em> programme and certificate. Commitment to the programme shows that your school hasn\u2019t swept the problem under the rug, but actively works to reduce loneliness \u2013 so that no one feels left out. The time to act is now.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/main>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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THE TIME OF LONELINESS IS OVER<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Loneliness among children and young people is a serious and growing problem. One in four girls and one in ten boys in their early teens often feels lonely. Loneliness is not a state of mind you choose nor enjoy, unlike the times when you choose to be alone. Long-term loneliness can weaken the mental and physical health of young people, negatively impact their learning ability, and increase the risk of violent behaviour. We cannot afford to leave a single child or youth unsupported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The School to Belong<\/em> Programme helps a school community identify and alleviate the loneliness experienced by some young people and offers tools to counteract it. The programme makes the reduction of loneliness a common endeavour for the whole school. It is something the school community works for together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programme uses methods that international studies have shown to be most effective: impactful early intervention, skill training, changing the atmosphere of attitudes, and by realigning distorted thought patterns that contribute to loneliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information, please contact:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Silva Simojoki<\/strong>
School to Belong programme manager<\/em>
silva.simojoki@helsinkimissio.fi, 043 201 3192<\/p>\n\n\n <\/main>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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The School to Belong<\/strong> Loneliness Survey 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The School to Belong loneliness survey investigated the loneliness experienced by students in 47 educational institutions participating in the School to Belong program. 14% of young people who responded to the survey reported experiencing harmful loneliness in their institution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more about the results of the survey (in Finnish)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/main>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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TOGETHER WE ARE ONE<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n <\/main>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
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\n \"Nuori \"Nuori\n <\/div>\n
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Young person, you’re not alone<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Are you having a tough time in life? Do you have problems with your relationships? Do you feel lonely? Do you want to learn how to treat yourself with compassion?

If you need someone to talk to, our volunteers and professionals are here for you. Find out more about our Youth Services!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n <\/main>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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A MISSION FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Schools committed to the programme are validated with the School to Belong<\/em> certificate. This confirms that all staff members and students recognise that loneliness is a problem which they are working to alleviate \u2013 so no one need feel alone. In such a school, it is good to be a young person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programme is realised in cooperation with the Finnish National Agency for Education,<\/strong> <\/a>University of Turku’s<\/strong> Department of Teacher Education,<\/strong> <\/a>the Regional State Administrative Agency <\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>and the professor and loneliness researcher Niina Junttila<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programme is intended as a long-term model for all schools and education institutions in Finland. It is realised nationally through online training and e-materials. At present, the programme, implemented in Finnish and Swedish, is directed at middle schools, secondary education institutions and higher education institutions. For schools, participation is free of charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How your school can join the programme<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Enrolment is possible from September until the end of January.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The school takes a Loneliness Survey.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Survey results are made public, and a loneliness strategy is planned for the school.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. The school is offered appropriate tools to implement the loneliness strategy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Schools committed to the programme are certified.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Supporting the programme<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Eva Ahlstr\u00f6ms foundation<\/a>, family company Berner Oy<\/a>, August Ludvig Hartwalls foundation<\/a>, family company Veikko Laine Oy and The Common Responsibility Campaign 2024. The Swedish part of the programme are funded by Svenska folkskolans v\u00e4nner and Svenska kulturfonden.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/main>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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    Online materials for School to Belong schools<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Has your school enrolled in the School to Belong<\/em> programme? Log into our password-protected online service, which will give your school access to various materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Log in to the materials service (in Finnish)<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n <\/main>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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    Tip us off about a school<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Would you like to give HelsinkiMissio a tip-off about a school you wish would join our School to Belong <\/em>programme to reduce loneliness in the school? Leave us contact details for the school and we\u2019ll get in touch with them. Schools can enrol in January for the forthcoming school year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tip us off about a school (in Finnish)<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n <\/main>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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    Give a Donation to Help Young People<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If the company you work for would like to support the School to Belong<\/em> programme, please contact Silva Simojoki <\/strong>(silva.simojoki@helsinkimissio.fi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Read more about donating<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/main>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":38037,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"1089,952,909,3534,899,5260","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-19938","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSchool to Belong — HelsinkiMissio<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"School to Belong -ohjelma auttaa kouluyhteis\u00f6\u00e4 lievitt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n nuorten kokemaa yksin\u00e4isyytt\u00e4 sek\u00e4 tarjoaa ty\u00f6kaluja. 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