A Joint Event of the Overture Diversity Network of the European Regions of WOSM and WAGGGS

This year the Overture Diversity Network Meeting of the European Regions of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and the World Association of Girls Guides and Girls Scouts (WAGGGS) will take place in Finland from 19 to 21 May 2023. This fact is reflected in the proposed programme where we will have a presentation about the Sami Scout work, the “easy to come along” device and the “everybody involved” Training Programme. In order to complete the programme, we would like to hear about the current priorities in the areas of diversity and inclusion in your association.

Venue and Dates

The Overture Diversity Network Meeting 2023 is hosted by Suomen Partiolaiset – Finlands Scouter, the Finnish Scout and Guide Association, at the STEP Training Centre in Järvenpää, situated some 25km north of Helsinki International Airport.

The meeting will start at 12h00 noon (local time) on Friday, 19 May 2023, and close on Sunday, 21 May 2023, also at 12h00 noon.

The accommodation is going to be in rooms shared by 2 or 4 persons. Before the event, we would like to know if you have any specific wishes for your room.

We will do our best to offer an event that allows everyone to feel welcome and safe. Our venue is accessible for wheelchairs. However, there is no induction loop available. We will have a silent room for you to pray, meditate or just have silence.

It is also possible to stay overnight from Thursday 18 May 2023, should this be necessary due to your travel itinerary. However, this will come at an extra cost of EUR 41, and you will need to pay this amount together with the participation fee. This extra amount will include an evening snack and breakfast on Friday morning

Programme

The Network Steering Group and the Host Team have started to put together an interesting programme featuring relevant topics of diversity and inclusion in Guiding and Scouting.

If you would like to contribute to the programme and share something you have done in your association, we would happily want to hear about it. Please let us know in advance what you would like to share, which material or equipment you would need and how much time you would like to use.

As has become a welcome tradition at our Network Meetings in the past, there will be an International Evening on Saturday. You are more than welcome to bring with you something small from your country like typical food or beverages or examples of leaflets about relevant programmes and projects in your association.

On Friday, we plan to have a walk outside, followed by the unique experience of the Finnish sauna.

Registration Process and Participation Fee

The online registration will be open till 30 April 2023. Please use this online form to register.

The meeting will cost EUR 120 and cover all meals, accommodation and the programme from midday on Friday to midday on Sunday.

How to Get to the Venue

You can fly to Helsinki-Vantaa airport or travel by boat. If you are planning to travel by boat, please get in touch with the Host Team – colleagues will then provide useful and relevant information for you.

From Helsinki-Vantaa airport you need to take local train P (lähijuna P) to Tikkurila. In Tikkurila, you need to change to local train R (northbound, NOT to Helsinki; trains leave every 30 minutes at 24 min and 54 min past the hour). The travelling time will be around 40 minutes and the ticket will cost less than EUR 5. Get off at Ainola (the address is Horsmakatu 1, Järvenpää). From the train station in Ainola it will be about 20 minutes’ walk to the STEP-Training Centre (the address is Järvenpääntie 640, Järvenpää). If you let us know your arrival time in Ainola, the Host Team will try to arrange a pick-up service. Should you have any mobility issues do not hesitate to contact the Host Team and adequate solutions will be sought to ensure a safe and pleasant journey.

Catering

The Finnish Guide and Scout Association will do its best to have ovo-lacto-vegetarian food available, in a spirit of environmental sustainability and in an effort to contribute to measures preventing global warming. Please indicate all your specific catering needs when completing the registration form. We will ensure that everyone has a nutritious meal to suit their diet.

One remark about alcohol: you may want to bring some alcohol to the International Evening on Saturday to share and that will be as long as everyone involved is at least 18 years old. You are also allowed to bring with you for your personal consumption one or two alcoholic beverages. But you are not allowed to be or get drunk. We will need to leave the place as we would like to find it and make sure that we clean everything up after us.

Weather

In May, it is spring in Finland. There is already some green in the trees and on the ground, but it will still be chilly outside - especially in the evening or early in the morning. Weather is usually something like this: The temperature will be around +10°C. It could rain, it could be sunny, but surely it is going to be windy because we will be at the lake side.

Further Information

Should you have questions or require additional information please contact Graham Coulson, from the Overture Diversity Network via [email protected].

We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to Finland in May 2023.