The Red Cross – Our work
The Finnish Red Cross is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in Finland. We take care of those in the most disadvantaged position. We help amidst crises and accidents and support people of all ages when life gets hard.
We encourage and train people to take care of one another and look after their health. In all our work, we defend humanity and encourage people to notice the needs of others.
The Finnish Red Cross employs specialists and professionals from various sectors who have varied work histories and educational backgrounds.
Our employees especially value the meaningful and inspiring work that we do and the equal working community where we support each other.
See our vacancies (page in finnish) and get to know the Finnish Red Cross as an employer
The Finnish Red Cross is the most prominent Finnish non-governmental organisation offering humanitarian aid and one of the key organisations carrying out development cooperation. Our aid is always neutral, impartial and independent.
The Finnish Red Cross is a disaster preparedness organisation that supports and complements the work of the authorities when sudden emergencies occur.
Our trained volunteers are ready to help around the clock, every day of the year.
Learn more about preparedness in Finland (in Finnish)
Health promotion is an essential part of the Red Cross preparedness work in Finland. We work together with local authorities and organisations as well as other health promotion operators.
Our trained volunteers support people in finding lifestyles that promote health and guide them to local services as necessary.
Learn more about the work the Red Cross does in health promotion (in Finnish)
Relief consignments are sent out to the world and Finland from the Finnish Red Cross Logistics Centre.
The Finnish Red Cross membership is a simple way of supporting the aid work by volunteers and taking a stand for humane values and objectives.
The membership fees are used to fund local volunteering activities and volunteer training in Finland.
Learn more about our membership and join
Tens of thousands of Finnish Red Cross members and volunteers take part in the activities of their local branch.
The supreme authority of the organisation lies with the General Assembly, which represents the members and meets every three years. The General Assembly selects the board and other elected bodies for the organisation to lead the operations of the organisation.
Read more about our organisation operations and get to know the Finnish Red Cross publications (in Finnish)
One of the key objectives of the Red Cross is to protect life and health. The organisation carries out a variety of activities in order to meet this goal, one being our high-quality first aid training for citizens.
Read more about the first aid activities of the Red Cross (in Finnish)
Loneliness is harmful to a person’s well-being. Each of us needs the company of another person, and even a single positive relationship can stop the cycle of loneliness.
Thousands of trained Finnish Red Cross volunteer friends offer concrete help with loneliness.
The Finnish Red Cross Youth Shelters listen and look for solutions when things go wrong at home or elsewhere.
At the Youth Shelters, you can ask us about anything related to adolescence or parenting – an everyday worry or a major life crisis.
Contact us online, call us whenever you need to or come directly to one of our Youth Shelters. You can come to us on your own initiative and without an appointment. Our help is free of charge.
Learn more about our Youth Shelters
The Finnish Red Cross provides schools and educational institutions with diverse learning materials as well as support and tools for organising themed days.
We talk about life in different parts of the world and discuss global challenges, loneliness, racism, first aid, friendships and different ways of helping.
Read more about our school cooperation and get to know our learning materials (in Finnish)
Young people are very welcome to join all Red Cross activities!
With us, you can train in first aid and preparedness groups, lead children’s clubs and camps, organise events and plan campaigns or social media communications for your branch.
Learn more about our volunteer activities for young people and young adults (in Finnish)
Get help and support
The Red Cross organises food aid activities in several towns across Finland. Our food aid is built around respectful and safe encounters with human values. Our activities are based on volunteering.
Read more about the food aid activities of the Red Cross
If you are looking for food aid, you can find the nearest food distributions of several operators at Foodaid.fi.
The Finnish Red Cross helps vulnerable immigrants, such as asylum seekers, quota refugees and undocumented immigrants.
Humanity and impartiality are principles of the Red Cross. Racist views are in stark contrast with our principles. Our operations are open to all, accessible, non-discriminating and free of racism.
Learn more about the anti-racism activities of the Red Cross
The rules of war, i.e. agreements on international humanitarian justice, aim to restrict the effects of armed conflicts. Spreading information on the rules of war is one of the core tasks of the Red Cross.
Learn more about humanitarian law and Red Cross activities (in Finnish)
The Kontti second-hand department stores sell donated products. Kontti is a part of the fundraising activities of the Finnish Red Cross, and its proceeds are divided between aid activities in Finland and the Disaster Relief Fund.
Some donations are sent through the Finnish Red Cross Logistics Centre to aid targets around the world. Kontti stores also provide emergency aid in domestic disasters, e.g. for families who have lost their homes in fires.
Learn more about the Kontti second-hand department stores (in Finnish)
Donate clothing or goods
The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service is centrally responsible for the blood product services in all of Finland. The basic task of the Blood Service is to create the preconditions for saving lives.
Learn more about the Blood Service
In all our work, we defend humanity, and our operations are guided by the principles and Code of Ethics of the Red Cross and our own operating principles.
Learn more about the Red Cross values, operating principles and guidelines
The operations of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are steered by seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, universality and unity. These principles also steer the cooperation between the Finnish Red Cross and businesses.
Read the principles of the Red Cross
A red cross against a white background is an international protection symbol used for providing protection for medical services and Red Cross relief workers in armed conflicts.
A national Red Cross association was founded in Finland in May 1877 under the name Association for the Treatment of the Wounded and Sick Soldiers.
Over the decades, the organisation grew into a significant and trusted helper, both in Finland and internationally.
Get to know the history of the Finnish Red Cross (in Finnish)
