MEK-Community Developers
The City of Vantaa established the Regional Programme of Positive Action (MEK) to promote the wellbeing of people living in Vantaa. The aim was to reduce disparities in wellbeing between residents and regions. MEK comes from the Finnish words: myönteinen erityiskohtelu (positive special treatment).
From left to right: Salli Allén, Mirja Varjoranta, Maria Jantunen and Emilia Henttunen-Dufvelin.
The Community Developers work in the MEK-Programme ends and work tasks change in 2026
The MEK programme ended in December 2025. The Community developers will start working in the City of Vantaa's regional Community Work's team. In the team Emilia Henttunen‑Dufvelin and Maria Jantunen will continue with community development work. Salli Allén and Mirja Varjoranta will get back to their positions as Community Worker in the same team. The contact details of the Community Developers will stay the same. You can find the contact details at the bottom of the webpage.
Read more about the City of Vantaa's Community Work by clicking the following link: https://www.vantaa.fi/fi/vapaa-aika-ja-harrastukset/yhteisollinen-toiminta-ja-tilat/yhteisotyo-pahkinankuoressa .
MEK-Community Developers final report
The Community Developers’ work in the MEK-programme ended in December 2025. Because of this, the Community Developers wrote a final report about their work during the MEK-programme 2023–2025. The final report is written in Finnish. Click on the link below to read the final report.
Why did we do MEK-work?
We wanted to improve the opportunities of all Vantaa residents. Our aim was to ensure that no one is left alone.
We aimed to promote wellbeing in Vantaa and improve the opportunities of all residents to participate in our community. To achieve this, we supported local communities and community spirit.
We wanted all of Vantaa's residents to have equal opportunities. That is why we worked during 2023–2025 as Community Developers in four major regions in Vantaa: Hakunila, Koivukylä, Myyrmäki and Korso.
What did MEK-Community Developers do?
- We established connections with locals and had a presence in the areas.
- We provided and passed on information.
- We brought people and groups together.
Each of us Community Developers had our own region in which we worked. We worked together with local people and took into account the specific characteristics of each region. We worked in the City of Vantaa’s Youth and Community Services, but we also cooperated with other services.
