"Together Thursday” project connected nursing students and elderly people

It all started with an idea from Momoko Tulisalo last December. Originally from Japan, Momoko has studied Nursing at SeAMK herself and knows what it’s like to face language and cultural challenges as an international student. While working in home care at Yhdessä Group Oy, she noticed that many elderly people longed for company and meaningful social interaction. This inspired her to think: could lonely elderly people and nursing students learning Finnish be brought together in a way that benefits both?

Momoko shared her idea with the founder of Yhdessä Group, who then contacted a SEAMK lecturer Jeremia Keisala. After a joint discussion with Momoko, the idea quickly began to take shape. The lecturer was immediately enthusiastic and saw it as a perfect opportunity for the TopUp Nursing student group, which includes Filipino students. Lecturer Pauliina Oja-Lipasti also joined the planning, and together with Yhdessä Group they decided to launch the “Yhdessä Torstai” (Together Thursday) project.

During the spring, 11 students and a varying number of elderly participants (6–10 per session) took part in the project. The group met on seven Thursdays, spending two hours together each time. The students organized activities such as singing, games, and conversations, while Momoko designed exercises to help students practice Finnish through interaction with the elderly. On several occasions, the gatherings ended with a shared lunch.

The project was a success. The students showed great commitment and attended every session. Participation also counted toward their required practical training hours, which encouraged consistent involvement.

Several partners supported the project. The CareEP project, led by Project Manager Terhi Voltti, contributed to the initiative, and project worker Binu Acharya joined several of the meetings. Through CareEP, a joint lunch was organized at Marttilan Talli. Salotta sponsored one lunch, and Yhdessä Group provided another.

The Together Thursday project received excellent feedback from both students and elderly participants. The students appreciated the opportunity to practice Finnish and learn about Finnish culture in real-life interaction, while the elderly enjoyed the company and meaningful shared moments with the students.