Dear people of Maailmanvaihto and our friends, Pride is here again! Join us to celebrate the culmination of Pride Month and Helsinki Pride Week with the joyful and colorful Pride parade and the park picnic on Saturday 29 June 2024! Together, let’s show our support for the rainbow community by marching proudly for equality, diversity and sexual and gender minority rights.
The themes of the year are peace and hope – two things we also want to promote in Maailmanvaihto’s activities. Through Maailmanvaihto, young people from all over the world interact with new cultures and meet people through international volunteering. We want to encourage global responsibility, peace and the building of a more equal world through intercultural learning.
For us, caring and inclusiveness are important values that help create safer spaces for all. We want our work to be increasingly sensitive to gender and sexual diversity. Come as you are and if you wish, take a friend with you!
What? Helsinki Pride is the largest human rights and cultural event in Finland. June is the official Pride month, culminating in Helsinki Pride week from 24–30 June 2024, with the traditional parade and Kaivopuisto picnic on Saturday 29 June. Read more on the Helsinki Pride Community website: https://pride.fi/en/.
Where and when? The parade starts from the Senate Square. We will meet on the side of the square, in front of the main entrance of the National Library (Unioninkatu 36) at 12. We will join at the end of the parade. Most probably, it will take some time for the parade to get going, so it is advisable to consider the weather conditions!
The parade route: Senate Square > Aleksanterinkatu > Mannerheimintie > Pohjois- Esplanadi > Fabianinkatu > Eteläinen Makasiinikatu > Kasarminkatu > Neitsytpolku > Kaivopuisto Park. The route of the parade is about 2,8 km long. On the website of Helsinki Pride, you can find instructions and accessibility information.
The picnic will take place in Kaivopuisto park, where the parade ends. There we will settle down together after the walk to relax and enjoy snacks together. If you wish, you too can bring a small vegetarian dish or drink to share. We will bring a small blanket, but bringing your own blanket or mat is also recommended.
Please note that Maailmanvaihto cannot cover travel costs to the event for the participants. Stay tuned for more info and see you then!
Join us! Welcome people of Maailmanvaihto and friends of our organization! If you would like to join us, we hope you will let us know in advance at harjoittelija@maailmanvaihto.fi so we know who to expect.
If you cannot find us, you can call or text our office intern Ilona: +358 50 346 0965. Please note, though, that it is expected that many people will join the parade and the picnic in general, due to which the connection and the audibility may be weak.