In English
THE ORTHODOX YOUTH ASSOCIATION OF FINLAND (ONL)
The Orthodox Youth Association of Finland is a non-profit organization of Orthodox Christian youth work and publishing and funded by the Finnish Orthodox Church and Ministery of Education and Culture. ONL is also a member of Syndesmos.
Contact information
Address: ONL, Rantakatu 25, 80100 Joensuu, Finland
Phone: + 358 0206 100 370
Fax: + 358 0206 100 371
Email: onl (at) ort.fi
President: Fr. Teemu Toivonen
Executive Director: Ms. Maria Kauppila (maria.kauppila (at) ort.fi, +358 0206 100 373)
History
The Orthodox Youth Association of Finland (In Finnish Ortodoksisten Nuorten Liitto - ONL) was founded during the World War II, on 25.3.1943. It's aims were and still are: to strenghten the Orthodox Church of Finland, to help the youth to become living and active members of the Church, to raise and strenghten among the Orthodox youth the Orthodox spirit and Orthodox way of life and love towards their own church, to guide the Orthodox youth to study Orthodoxy.
From the year 1947 ONL has organized camps for children and youth. In the beginning they were very big, up to almost 1000 campers, but later they were spilt into many smaller camps. Summer camps proved to be very successful. They were and still are a good method of operation. Nowadays most of the parishes arrange their own camps and clubs.
Activities of ONL
Activities and roles of the ONL have changed and developed during the decades. Currently the main aim is to help parishes of Finnish Orthodox Church to fulfill their mission in youth work. This is done by training camp counsellors, club councellors, camp leaders, by publishing literature and magazine "Tuohustuli" (=Prayer candle or Candle light) for children and youngsters. ONL also arranges gatherings and camps, such as Youth camp teaching the basic doctrines of Orthodox Christianism for 14-year old, taking place in New Valaam Monastery.
"Orthodoxy Camp"
Orthodoxy Camp (Kristinoppikoulu or kripari in Finnish) aimed for 14-15-year-old is very popular and effective way to reach youngsters. It is a special 6-10 day period during which the basic doctrines and customs of Orthodox Christianism are being taught. The principal "learning by doing" is kept in mind by councellors. The youngsters take part in church services as readers, singers and helpers in the altar with the priest. Lectures, fun games and evenings around camp fire are essential features, too. Helping others and social interaction has important role in general. Most of the parishes arrange this kind of camps.
Camp counselor training
ONL organizes two camp-counselor training courses every year. During these training weekends such things as camp program, safety, group dynamics, basics of camp counselling etc. are being discussed and studied.
International work
ONL has been in a way a pioneer in the Orthodox Church of Finland when it comes to international activity. Delegates of ONL were founding Syndesmos in France in 1953. Even before the birth of Syndesmos ONL had some international contacts. The headquarters of Syndesmos were in Finland for 13 years and there have been three Finnish secretary-generals. ONL has close connections and lot of co-operation with many Orthodox youth groups, for example with the Fellowship of Orthodox Youth in Poland and in Estonia. ONL also organizes pilgrimages for youth; f.e. we have annual exchange week program with the youth of Constantinople.
Publishing
ONL publishes a magazine for children and youth, Tuohustuli (Candle light), four issues per year. The target group is 3-14-year-old kids and the current circulation is 4500 per number. Many parishes order the magazine as a present to their young members.
There is a selection of materials published by ONL. Our aim is to produce materials with reasonable price tags and uderstandable language. Booklets such as Orthodox Worship, Sacraments & Customs or My Prayer Book have already become kind of classics.