Valo-Valmennusyhdistys is not only a service provider – we are an active we are an active RDI organisation in the fields of youth work, social services, employment and social entrepreneurship. We believe that the best knowledge about inclusion, rehabilitation and supported pathways comes from direct work with people, and that research and development should feed directly back into that everyday practice.
Practice-based and people-centred
Our RDI work is grounded in the real experiences of the people we work with and the professionals who work alongside them. We develop and test methods in live service environments, document what works and why, and share what we learn with the broader field – nationally and internationally. Clients and staff are involved in development work from the outset, not as subjects but as active participants.
Our areas of expertise include:
Learning in non-formal environments and the recognition of informal learning; learning challenges, basic skills development and accessible education pathways; employment support and coaching for people facing barriers to the labour market; rehabilitation approaches including Housing First, addiction recovery and reintegration from the criminal justice system; mental health and wellbeing promotion; outreach and low-threshold services; youth work and supported transitions to adulthood; and questions relating to social entrepreneurship and work integration.
Collaborative by design
We actively seek new partners for research, development and innovation – both in Finland and internationally. We have established strategic partnerships with several Finnish universities of applied sciences as well as ongoing international collaboration with partners across Europe. Our work is funded through a range of sources including e.g. ESF and Erasmus+.
If you are interested in co-developing knowledge, methods or practices in areas related to inclusion, social wellbeing or supported pathways to employment and education, we welcome the conversation.