Meet Lapinlahti people: Jaana Järvinen
“I was studying to become a community nurse and together with my fellow students I participated in the Muuri demonstration in May 2000 in defence of Lapinlahti Hospital. There was a warm atmosphere among strangers, and the participants were served pea soup and pancakes in the courtyard.”
Jaana Järvinen, Sales and Customer Service Assistant at Lapinlahden Lähde Oy, recalls her first visit to Lapinlahti like this. Jaana worked as a local nurse for almost 18 years, specialising in mental health and substance abuse work. In December 2017, however, she had to take sick leave from work, which soon turned into a study leave. While on study leave, Jaana started studying for a degree in business administration. As part of her studies, Jaana’s team was given the task of envisioning the future of the Lapinlahti region in an innovation course. As a student, Jaana visited Lapinlahti again, and in May 2019 she was offered a work placement at Lapinlahden Lähde Oy.
Jaana says that her job responsibilities remained mainly unchanged when she continued as a hired employee at Lähde Oy the following year.
“I meet a lot of people in my job. I answer clients’ reservations and questions, show prospective tenants around the office space and guests around the event space, write tenant letters and place orders for groceries. Together with my colleagues and the café, we explore options and solve problems if, for example, we suddenly need to find space for 60 people. It’s rewarding and nice to read the feedback from guests, as people have generally enjoyed their stay in Lapinlahti. Sometimes we also receive constructive criticism, which gives us the opportunity to improve our customer service.”
Jaana compares Lapinlahti to other communities she knows: “I really appreciate my colleagues. We have a great team at Lähde Oy and in Lapinlahti as a whole. It’s the best community I’ve ever been a part of. There are a lot of different kinds of people in Lapinlahti. People here think broadly and do a wide range of things. In addition to activities that focus on the well-being of the mind, there is a lot more here.”
“This year has been eventful”
In Jaana’s opinion, the 2024 resident’s initiative campaign has shown the strength of the Lapinlahti community.
“The campaign united all the people of Lapinlahti and gave more meaning to our work. It brought Lapinlahti into the public eye once and for all. The success of the campaign showed that a great many people want Lapinlahti to remain in the ownership and use of the city as it is today. The successful campaign also showed that when the community is strong enough, we can really make a difference, which gives us faith in the future.”
“This year has been eventful. In addition to the delivery of a resident’s initiative at City Hall, the highlights of the year have been a demonstration against the threat to Lapinlahti Park by the Harbour Tunnel, the Lapinlahti Film Festival and the tenth anniversary of Lapinlahden Lähde this autumn.”
“I remember with particular joy the Helsinki Day, to which I invited the cavalry police. The police horses Laku and Hannes charmed the audience in the garden courtyard. The “Voices of the Living” event on All Saints’ Day is an important event for me and many others. I have lost dozens of people close to me in recent years, and this event provides a safe place to reminisce.”
Jaana hopes that the necessary renovation of the buildings in Lapinlahti will be carried out in stages so that the activities can continue.
“The Lapinlahti of the future would still be a safe haven for people to come and relax and experience timelessness. A unique happy bubble that we all deserve. For many, this is the only place they dare to come. If this is sold on or the harbour tunnel is built, much will be lost and what is lost will never be regained.”
Jaana would like to see that in ten years’ time Lapinlahti will still have active civic activities that promote mental well-being, such as guided youth activities, activities for immigrants, craft workshops, art and culture. The accessibility of the main building would be improved: a lift would be built, thresholds removed and safe ramps installed.
“Of course, I wish that Lapinlahden Lähde Oy would continue to operate, and I would like to work here.” Jaana laughs. I’m sure all Jaana’s friends in Lapinlahti do too.
Text by Juhana Heikkilä
Photo by Saara Hornig