Meet Lapinlahti People: Siru Valleala

Beforehand, what Lapinlahti meant for me was a deep-seated calmness, the beauty of the park and the old buildings, a tasty café, atmospheric sauna, and intriguing history. Those are the thoughts that I had when I started working in Pro Lapinlahti mental health association’s communications team in August last year.

When I came here, I was surprised. What a cornucopia, a colourful tapestry, and a kaleidoscope Lapinlahden Lähde is! Even though I knew there are a lot of things happening at Lähde, I was still surprised at the volume! I didn’t know that, including all the office tenants and entrepreneurs, there are hundreds of people in the different parts of the buildings. I didn’t know that the place offers so many people genuine, low-threshold encounters every day, job opportunities for those who might not get them elsewhere, activities, art, well-being and rich life content for each and every one.

I didn’t know, that there are often as much as seven exhibitions at the same time—and the area has so many interesting services, from a flower shop dealing in surplus flowers, via shiatsu, to a sourdough bakery.

I felt welcome and safe immediately. Everyone says that in Lapinlahti you can be exactly who you are—and it is true. The building designed by Engel with its light-bringing windows and doors is like a living, revitalising character itself. I was particularly enchanted by the garden courtyard in the main building’s inner courtyard, the Blue Room in the Venetsia house, the waterfront—and the Japan exhibition that dominated Osasto5 when I arrived. All the calligraphy felt like home, because Japan is like a second homeland to me. I have written Tokyo guidebooks and lived there for several years.

As it is, I have enjoyed travelling around the world. I have worked as a freelance journalist for over a decade, including as editor-in-chief of the responsible travel media Tripster, at Sanoma Media and Kustannusosakeyhtiö Tammi. In addition to Tokyo, I have spent longer periods in Prague and Tallinn. As a counterbalance, massage has remained a sideline from my previous career in the social and health sector, and I still have my own massage business.

I was also surprised by the Lappari dogs! We have almost ten dogs here, roaming around meetings and offices. They are an important part of the community. My own poodle, Melli, is still waiting for her first visit.

I now work and tell stories at Lapinlahden Lähde as a full-time communications expert at Pro Lapinlahti in a variety of assignments, such as website content producer, newsletter writer, in social media, influencer and foundation communications, interns’ guide, and also as a brand new occupational safety and health representative. Every day I get to admire the wealth of ideas, skills, and energy of my colleagues and the entire staff, even though many have challenging life stages behind them.

I hope that in the future, thanks to my work, more and more people will hear about Lähde’s mental health and advocacy work, the experiences and cultural offerings, and the opportunities for participation, and that, like us Lappari people, they would like to join us in cherishing this exceptional and, for many, vital community and cultural heritage.

You can find me at Osasto5—unless, as an old literature student, I am feeling the atmosphere in Aleksis Kivi’s patient room!