January Newsletter

14.1.2026

Timeless dances from across the continent 🗺

Our dancing shoes (and dancing socks, because barefoot dancing is also a thing in here!) are full of excitement. After a short winter break, we’re back with the first Folk it Up! session of 2026.

Our volunteers will introduce some new Balfolk dances, mixed with a few favorites from past sessions.

Got a dance you love? This is your moment to shine! What better way to start the new year than sharing a dance you’re passionate about? If it’s not on your New Year’s resolutions yet, now is the time to add it ✨

The only rule: dances should be beginner-friendly and as accessible as possible. If yours fits the vibe, feel free to suggest it, before the event or during the session.

Never danced folk before? No worries at all. Our volunteers will happily teach the steps and get you moving on the dance floor 💃🕺

🧭 Practical Info

📆 Date: Thursday, January 15th
🕕 Time: 18:00–21:00
📍 Location: Allianssi-talo, Asemapäällikönkatu 1 00520 Helsinki. Allianssi-talo is wheelchair accessible and has accessible toilets.
💰 Cost: Free! But registration is required—sign up here.
🌍 Language: The event is in English, but no worries if you’re not fluent—dance is universal! Plus, Finnish-speaking volunteers will be around to help.
🗣️ Tapahtuma järjestetään englanniksi, mutta pärjäät tapahtumassa myös ilman kummempaa kielitaitoa.

🌱 What is Folk it Up?

Folk it Up! is a European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Solidarity Project, co-funded by the European Union. It’s free of charge, targeted to youth but open to everyone and volunteer-led. The project runs from September 2025 to March 2026, and you’re welcome to join at any time.

👉 Want to join the volunteer team? Send us an email at youth@alli.fi—we'd love to hear from you!

📲 Follow us on social media or check our website for updates on locations and program details. Read more about the project here.

📝 Registration form

🎟️ The event is free, but registration is mandatory.

🌈 Folk it up is a European Solidarity Corps solidarity project, run by volunteers. The bi-monthly events bring together international and local youth to learn about balfolk. During each event we learn new folk dances originating from different countries around the world and practice previously learned ones. We socialise, connect and, of course, enjoy some vegan snacks together!
🌈 The events have become a joyful and vibrant community where everyone is welcome.
🌈 We follow safer space principles at the events and only serve vegan food. The event will have a designated safer space contact person available.

Join us for the first Deeds of Hope event in 2026 and learn about cormorants (merimetso) and what threats they are facing! 🦅

On Tuesday, January 20th, we will meet with the activists from Luontoliiton Politiikkarhymä and learn together about merimetso (cormorants). Cormorants are misunderstood birds as lots of misinformation has been spread around them.

Together, we will learn about threatened species, share information about the environment of merimetso (Baltic sea) and find out about how environmental policy can threaten different species.

In the second part of the evening, we will create merimetso art together! You can choose whether you’d like to draw 🖍, paint 🎨 , write 📝 or do any other kind of art - and we will have a relaxed discussion at the same time regarding threatened species and nature. The art that we make will be used by Luontoliitto on social media to advocate for merimetso!

All materials will be provided by Allianssi Youth Exchanges’ volunteers, who will also serve a free vegan meal 🥙 to all registered participants. All artistic skill levels are welcome! 🙌

Program of the evening:

🕠 18:00–18:45 – Introduction and presentation of Luontoliitto
🍲 18:45–19:45 – Dinner break – free vegan food!
🥁 19:45 onwards – Discussion and creating art together

Practical Info
📆 Date: Tuesday, January 20th
🕕 Time: 18:00-21:00

📍 Location: Allianssi-talo, Asemapäällikönkatu 1 00520 Helsinki. Allianssi-talo is wheelchair accessible and has accessible toilets.
💰 Cost: Free! But registration is required—sign up below.
🌍 Language: The event is in English, but no worries if you’re not fluent. Finnish-speaking volunteers will be around to help.
🗣️ Tapahtuma järjestetään englanniksi, mutta pärjäät tapahtumassa myös ilman kummempaa kielitaitoa.

Registration form

🎟️ The event is free of charge, but registration is required for organizational purposes. Please register 1 day before the event at the latest.

Deeds of Hope 🌼 is a European Solidarity Corps (ESC) solidarity project. It's created by youth, run by volunteers, and co-funded by the European Union.
It consists of a series of monthly events where we meet to share knowledge about activism and social engagement, explore the impact of Helsinki’s changemakers, and learn how to become part of movements for change.
We’ll get our hands dirty in practical workshops, where each month’s featured movement or organization shares hands-on skills and knowledge gained from their experience in activism.

We also offer free plant-based meals 🌱, cooked by our volunteers with primarily seasonal and locally produced ingredients.

Do you want to join our volunteer crew, too? 🤸‍♀️ Send us an email youth@alli.fi to get on board!

We don’t ask for any specific requirements — just the motivation to contribute to a meaningful project, even through small acts that make a difference.

📝 Registration form

Although the event and participation are free, we require participants to register. You can find more information about the event and the registration form at this link.

Are you a part of a youth group or an environmental movement? We organize workshops on climate justice and would be happy to lead a workshop for you! 🌎 The theme of Allianssi Youth Exchanges' year is climate justice, and we offer various ways to make a concrete impact in this regard.

The workshops aim to increase young people's understanding of the theme and strengthen their voice in decision-making related to climate justice in Europe. The content can be tailored to suit your group.

In the workshops, we collect young people's experiences and suggestions, which are compiled into recommendations for EU decision-makers.

Part of EYA - European Youth in Action: Policymakers for Climate Justice -CERV project.

🍀 Themes : climate justice, energy transition, greenwashing and biodiversity

⏳ Duration: 1-3 hours

👋 Target group & group size: 15-30 years old, 8-20 people

💬 Language: Finnish or English

The workshop is free of charge.

💡 Interested? Read more about the workshops on our website

👉 Read more about our 2026 theme of climate justice and how to get involved on our website.

Here's a short overview of what's coming up next with Allianssi Youth Exchanges:

Folk it up! continues in 2026! Next sessions will be on Tuesday, January 27th and then Thursday, February 12th and Tuesday, 24th. Specific details will be published on our website and social media closer to the event. 🔔
Deeds of Hope also continues its run in 2026. Our activism solidarity project will continue its monthly events with all the important information about the next collaboration published on our website and social media closer to the event! See you again in February 💫

We wish you all a great start to the new year and we hope to see you at our events again this year!

As always, follow our social media and our website 🤳 to stay up to date on current events!

See you in February! 💗

January Newsletter

Allianssi Youth Exchanges newsletter in English