Two longstanding family businesses, Insta and Kiilto, have once again joined forces to promote the well-being of children and youth. The companies' staff voted to direct the annual €10,000 charity donation to the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare's (MLL) youth mental health work.
The charity options included a diverse selection of themes, such as children's and youth's well-being, crisis aid for Ukraine, nature conservation, and a local aid target in Pirkanmaa. A total of 360 people from Insta and Kiilto participated in the vote. The winning charity, the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, received 34% of the votes. MLL received the donation last year as well, indicating the staff's strong commitment to supporting the well-being of children and youth.
A society where children and youth thrive is good for all ages
MLL offers a variety of support services for children and youth, such as phone and chat services where they can confidentially talk to an adult every day of the year. Additionally, MLL supports families and schools by providing materials and training to promote the well-being of children and youth.
For example, during the spring, MLL takes part in the "Give a Voice to a Child" campaign, aimed at increasing the awareness of future municipal and welfare area decision-makers about the well-being of children and youth. The campaign also provides voters with information and ways to advocate for children and youth.
MLL has been working for a hundred years for the good everyday life of children and families. As early as 1920, General Mannerheim invited citizens to join the work to improve the conditions of children, and this work continues today, now also together with partner companies.
"Supporting the mental health of children and youth is inherently important, but it also secures the future. The foundation of well-being is built in childhood and adolescence. This donation helps us secure our operations, which provide the presence of an adult for children and youth who need it in their daily lives," says Tatjana Pajamäki, Head of MLL's Support Services.
The joint support of family businesses creates security for young people
Kiilto's board member and one of the owners Eeva Solja finds the donation target meaningful, as the future lies in children and youth.
"Children’s and youth’s mental health problems, anxiety and loneliness, that are increasing and starting at an increasingly younger age, are repeatedly highlighted in the media. It is nice to see that the employees of Kiilto and Insta share this concern and want to support organizations working for the well-being of children and youth. Children and youth need safe adults who support them through life's rough patches and difficult situations. At Kiilto, we want to create well-being not only for our staff but also for the communities around us, and helping children and youth is key in this. Children and youth are the future, and we all must strive to ensure that this future is as bright as possible", says Eeva Solja.
Niklas Mattsson, Vice Chairman of the Board at Insta Group, finds it significant that the staff values supporting the well-being of children and young people so highly that the same cause received a donation for the second consecutive year.
"It is wonderful to see that the staff at both Insta and Kiilto consider supporting the well-being of children and young people important – year after year. It reflects the values that are lived out in both of our family companies. In recent years, we have seen increasing signs of how great the need is for young people to have safe support and a listening adult. I am proud that together with our staff, we can be involved in enabling this meaningful work for the benefit of future generations", says Mattsson.
The well-being and mental health of youth have also been considered important charities at Kiilto and Insta in the past. Before MLL, the two previous donations have been directed to helping Ukraine, and before that, for two consecutive years, the donation was voted to be directed to the Youth Mental Health Association Yeesi to enable the Sekasin group chat activities. Read more about last year's donation.
Thank you to everyone who voted – Let's do good together!
Additional Information:
Eeva Solja
Brand Director
Kiilto
Niklas Mattsson
Vice Chairman of the Board
Insta Group Oy