LocalTapiola South Ostrobothnia has decided to support Liiver's Youth Leader activities with a donation of €20,000. The donation will finance the Youth Leader projects of youth groups and young entrepreneurs starting in October 2025. The donation handover ceremony was held at the offices of LocalTapiola South Ostrobothnia on August 13, 2025. The donation was handed over by LocalTapiola South Ostrobothnia's Marketing and Communications Director Sirpa Hakala-Ostensen and Director of Finance and Administration Nina Jylha and it was received by the Executive Director of Liiver Sinikka Koivumäki and youth coordinator Noora Riippi.
– Maintaining the vitality of South Ostrobothnia is important by all means, and donations are one of these means, says Sirpa Hakala-Ostensen, Marketing and Communications Director of LocalTapiola South Ostrobothnia.
Youth Leader funding inspires young people to implement projects themselves. The projects of young people are visible and have a direct impact in the local community.
– This is a great demonstration that Youth Leader is a significant and impactful activity. Getting LocalTapiola on board motivates Liiver and the implementers of Youth Leader projects to continue their important work, says Liiver's Executive Director Sinikka Koivumäki.
Examples of funded projects include cultural events organized by young people themselves, the development of sports activities, and supporting young entrepreneurship. Funding has enabled, for example, the purchase of new hobby equipment or the launch of young businesses – such as buying a lawnmower or equipment for a summer café.
– The purpose of Youth Leader activities and funding is to inspire young people to be entrepreneurial and to work independently and actively for the benefit of their home region. At the same time, young people learn about applying for development funding, says Koivumäki.
Youth Leader funding has been granted to youth groups since 2014 and to young entrepreneurship since 2021. The activities are well-established and supervised and coordinated by Liiver.
– Youth Leader funding is intended for public benefit, low-threshold projects and youth entrepreneurship by young people in the Liiveri area. The Liiveri Youth Division decides on the projects of young groups four times a year, and the Liiveri Economic Development Division processes youth entrepreneurship applications almost monthly, says Liiveri Youth Coordinator Noora Riippi.
All funded projects are visible On the Liiver website.