The Dila Campus (Dilakortteli): community and inclusion area
About this good practice
Dila Campus works for the betterment of lives, and it is of primary importance that people are encountered and valued as equal human beings. They work with integrity and defend those people who are in danger of being isolated from the rest of society. They believe that good and high-quality services are born by working together.
The Lahti Diaconia Institute operates in the Dilakortteli, a city block in the center of Lahti. It is a community and inclusion area that unites Lahti residents of different ages and life situations. The Dila Campus offers a home for the elderly, youth employment services, events, and volunteering. It offers a real chance to experience inclusion from person’s own strengths and life situations.
The Dila Campus offers workshops for young unemployed people, interactive work with pregnant mothers and babies, supported volunteering, rehabilitative work, circular economy: shop for recycled items and rescue food, elderly care home units, day care for children, vocational training and education, community work, youth work, housing for refugees and supported employment.
In Päijät-Häme region there are lots of long-term unemployed people, especially young unemployed (NEET). In addition, there is a great shortage of staff in social and health care sector. The Dila Campus is trying to resolve this issue by developing a workshop model for young people to get coaching towards social and health care career.
Expert opinion
Resources needed
Dila Campus is financed by the municipality, the EU and different ministries. Senior housing is financed by the customers. 100 employees (social and health and development specialists and administrative staff) and 350 volunteers work in Dila Campus.
Evidence of success
70-90% of the young people in workshops continue to work, study or supported activities. Success of facilities is measured with the experiences of inclusion scale (ESIS). In 2022 the ESIS of customers was on average 69 in the beginning of the activities. When they left the activities the ESIS was on average 71. 50 points is considered as very low experience of inclusion, when average in Finland is 75,2. (https://doi.org/10.1080/19452829.2021.1985440)
Potential for learning or transfer
In the big picture the Dila Campus working model offers a possibility to modify services for an individual from his own perspective. The support of the community offers a possibility to peer support. The Dila Campus enables a person’s agency. It makes it possible for someone who has received aid to become a helper themselves.
The resource-oriented approach makes it possible for the participants to proceed in their own time and towards their own goals.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
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