Super birthday celebration for 61-year-old Helsingin aikuisopisto and 50-year-old Aktiivi-Instituutti

On 31 August 2022, almost two hundred guests gathered at Helsingin aikuisopisto in Etu-Töölö to celebrate the combined 111 years of two institutions belonging to the same organisation.

Partners, stakeholder representatives and retired employees from over the years were invited to the celebration.

Distinguished speakers at the celebration

Greetings from the Ministry of Education and Culture were presented by State Secretary Dan Koivulaakso, as Minister of Education Li Andersson was unable to attend because of the government’s budget session that evening.

Deputy Mayor Nasima Razmyar offered congratulations on behalf of the City of Helsinki’s education division.

The celebration also heard congratulatory speeches by Antti Palola, Chair of STTK, and Sari Viinikainen, Chair of TJO ry, the organisation that maintains the institutions. The toast was given by Kari Karvonen, Executive Director of TJO.

Captivating performances entertained the guests

Minna Hämäläinen, our Training Coordinator for music courses, performed beautifully jazzy songs by Heikki Sarmanto with a trio made up of Marius Pirhonen, Eemeli Männistö and Ilari Mäkelä.

Hadassa Bellydance gave one of the most spectacular performances of the evening.

Angata Ensemble brought rhythm to the celebration with their stunning performance of West African music and dance.

The audience in the main hall was brought into the action by the improv group Kallio, sakset, paperi, made up of Ilkka Kalliomäki, Jussi Rytkönen, Kati Tikkamäki and Johanna Torasvirta.

Guided tours led by former pupils of the girls’ teacher training school

During the evening, guests had the opportunity to explore our renovated building, which was built in 1923 as a girls’ teacher training school. Former pupils of the school returned to the building for the evening to reminisce about their school days and share stories of their old school with the guests on the guided tours.

Thank you to all our guests, speakers, performers and organisers! It was lovely to see partners, old friends and new acquaintances face to face, reminiscing about the past and planning for the future.