A Shared Home for Children and Youth in Lappeenranta

Pallo-kodit in Lappeenranta is a 14-place basic child protection unit. Originally established in the Pallo district, the two-part facility received new premises in the Hiessilta district, constructed by Sievi Hyvinvointitilat.

“We have always aimed for as homely an environment as possible. These children and youth, aged 7-17, have been placed outside their own homes, so this is their home. There are always adults here ensuring that nights are slept, school is attended during the day, and warm meals are eaten,” says Jari “Javi” Jauhiainen, the responsible educator at Group Home Pallo.

Pallo-kodit is part of the larger Avosylin group, which operates throughout Finland.

“The need for new premises arose from modern legislation. The old facilities did not meet today’s social care requirements, for example, in terms of the number of toilets and room sizes,” explains Essi Hannola, the unit manager of Pallo-kodit.

The new building is divided into two seven-place sections. One end houses Group Home Pallo, and the other Group Home Pallonpolku. Previously operating in two separate buildings, these group homes are now under one roof.

Involved in the Design

“We got involved in designing the new facilities from the start. Together, we considered the floor plans and participated in site meetings throughout the construction project, which was great. We stayed informed about the progress,” Essi recalls.

“For someone in this line of work, it was a completely new experience. It was nice to visit the site to see how the building was progressing, and we became quite friendly with the construction workers, who were nice people. We were always well received and given detailed explanations of what was happening,” Javi continues.

One of the best successes has been the acoustics and avoiding institutional construction. With youth, things can sometimes get noisy, but the sounds do not carry through the structures to other areas. On the other hand, discussions can sometimes be very personal and confidential.

“There was a little fear of institutionalization beforehand. Sievi Hyvinvointitilat has managed to avoid that beautifully; there are no long corridors here. And the adaptability is good, privacy is available when doors are closed, and then doors can be opened to create a sense of community,” Javi smiles.

Updated to Modern Standards

“Sievi Hyvinvointitilat has created spaces for us that are quite comfortable for running our operations. The kitchens are modern, yet spacious enough for cooking together. Food is a big deal for us. We discuss together what to eat, and the youth participate in cooking. These facilities have been stylishly updated to modern standards,” Javi praises.

“In our opinion, these facilities are just what we hoped for and planned at the beginning. Working with Sievi Hyvinvointitilat was easy, good, and their professionalism was evident at every turn,” concludes Essi.