Open online spaces and communities
We enable encounters, new acquaintances and spending time together at our open online spaces and communities. There are online meeting places for people of different ages on the Red Cross website and the Discord platform.
Encounters and Chats in the Online Meeting Place
Our regularly meeting online meeting place is an open, low-threshold online community that meets on this Red Cross website every week.
At the online meeting place, you can join the conversation without prior registration. Our online meeting place is intended for anyone who wants to meet new people or needs someone to talk to.
In the online meeting place, the pleasant conversation atmosphere and moderation are handled by volunteer online community managers. The meeting place always follows the principles of a safer space.
Currently, the Finnish Red Cross online meeting space operates in Finnish, but our goal is to expand the opening hours and language options in 2025. Would you like to help make these meetings possible in other languages, such as English? Sign up to volunteer as a community manager here.
Online meetups in Finnish on Thursdays from 5 pm to 7 pm
Every Thursday at the online meeting place, informal discussions are held under the guidance of volunteers. The themes of the discussions are selected based on participants' wishes.
The lines are open from 5 PM to 7 PM, and you can join the group chat at a time that suits you by clicking the red bar at the bottom of the page. When you send your first message, you will create a username for yourself.
Talking About Loneliness chat in Finnish on Wednesdays
In February 2025, the "Talking About Loneliness" chat discussions led by volunteers will begin at the online meeting place. The discussions will be held in Finnish every Wednesday from 6 PM to 7:30 PM, and it is preferred that participants join from the start of the meeting. However, you are welcome to join even after the discussion has started. The more spesific list of themes below:
Wed 5.2. 6 PM – 7:30 PM What is loneliness?
Wed 12.2. 6 PM – 7:30 PM What can cause loneliness?
Wed 19.2. 6 PM – 7:30 PM The surprising power of thoughts
Wed 26.2. 6 PM – 7:30 PM How well do we know ourselves?
Wed 5.3. 6 PM – 7:30 PM The significance of the past
Wed 12.3. 6 PM – 7:30 PM Communication skills and getting to know new people
Wed 19.3. 6 PM – 7:30 PM Expectations and dreams
Wed 26.3. 6 PM – 7:30 PM Group conclusion, theme to be specified later
We´ll try to launch chats in English as soon as possible.
Olkkari online meeting place for young people on Discord
Olkkari is a meeting place for young people on the Discord platform, open from 3 pm to 9 pm from Monday to Friday. Volunteers in Olkkari talk to visitors. The service is currently available in Finnish.
You can talk about everyday things, or questions concerning growing up. Olkkari is also used to hold other events, like joint online gaming sessions and crafts. Additionally, experts from various fields visit once a month to talk about their work.
You can access the FRC Youth Shelter Olkkari Discord here.