Neighbourhood mentor programme

How does the Neighbourhood Mentor program work?

​MarjaVerkko ry recruits and interviews volunteers who are ready to become Neighbourhood Mentors for new residents in Kivistö. Together with your mentor, you can explore the Kivistö area and its services, have coffee, go for a walk, chat — or come up with any activities you both enjoy.

The goal is to help new residents settle into their new neighbourhood and build social connections. Sometimes Neighbourhood Mentors and new residents become long-term friends, but please note that the program is not intended as a friendship service.

​We recommend that each mentoring pair meets about four times in total, roughly once a month — though this can vary depending on the pair. MarjaVerkko ry supports all volunteers and is available throughout the entire mentoring process.​

Join the program by filling out the form below.

Sign up here

Who can become a Neighbourhood Mentor — or request one?

Anyone living in the Kivistö area who is an adult, enjoys meeting new people, and wants to help newcomers settle in can apply to be a Neighbourhood Mentor. No special skills are required — the most important thing is willingness to help.

Anyone who has recently moved to Kivistö and would like some support in getting to know the area or meeting new people can request a Neighbourhood Mentor. The program is intended for adults only.

How are mentoring pairs matched?

MarjaVerkko selects the mentoring pairs based on applications and interviews, and takes care of the mentors’ orientation as well as the overall coordination of the program. We do our best to match participants with someone compatible, which is why we ask about your interests during the interview. Please note that sometimes it may take a little while to find the right match.