Irma Kortesuo, who worked as a village expert for more than ten years, retired at the end of October. Irma had time to work in Liiver as the leader of four different village projects.
- Promoting cooperation between and within villages has been important to me. The villages are different from each other and have different strengths. At its best, cooperation means joining forces, learning from others and also learning to appreciate others, sums up Irma.
The best thing about work has been working together. It has been the red thread in everything we do.
- Working together is a certain kind of well-being factor, it brings security and community, says Kortesuo.
The work has been creative and versatile: As a village expert, Irma has organized many events and occasions together with the villages, informed and advised the villages, for example, in making project applications. Cooperation has also been done with other projects and entities, such as civic colleges, municipalities and organizations.
- We have organized trainings and information sessions and brought new ideas and skills to the villages. The information and advice has been hugely rewarding, when I have been able to concretely help in making the application and the project has gone through, says Irma.
As a village expert, Irma has also acted as a link between different organizations and villages. For example, in the provincial projects of SeAMK, Ruralia and Sydänpiiri, Irma has been able to help by finding suitable villages to join.
Career highlights
A lot has fit into ten years. The basic work has remained the same, but digitalization has brought with it new ways of working. The development of social media has changed the job description. The age structure of the villages has also guided the activities.
- The Open Villages event has been one of the highlights of the year for me. I have been able to participate in promoting a national theme day, which has helped the villages gain visibility for their own events.
Open villages is a national event organized by Suomen Kylät ry, which is celebrated annually in June. In Irma's opinion, Suomen Kylie's communication has developed enormously over the years and it has been a great help in Irma's work as well.
The highlights of my working career also include the annual European Cultural Environment Days. The Seitsemän bridge cultural cycling organized on Ilmajoki is one of its established events. Finland's 100th anniversary year has also been remembered. At that time, a wide variety of events were carried out, for example, with the theme of "Together".
Challenging phases have also been possible over the years. Corona stopped everything and brought problems to the village halls when parties, dinners and plays were cancelled.
- Now that the world has opened up again and events can be organized again, it has been a pleasure to notice that people participate in events. Currently, the energy crisis is a huge threat. It worries how the village houses will have enough money after the corona years.
Above all, Irma has the good sides of the job in mind. Working with people of different ages has been eye-opening and rewarding. Irma calculates that there have been eight young people in Liiver either in internships or summer jobs during Irma's working career.
- I have enjoyed working with young people. It is a great asset that there are different people of different ages in the community.
Now more than ten years of working in Liiveri is coming to an end and the meaning of the work can be clearly seen.
- The work has been independent and creative. I have been very grateful to have been able to do this work. I very much hope that this development work will continue in the future as well, even though I am going to spend my retirement days.
A look into the future
Starting in November, Irma plans to spend even more time with her grandchildren and other loved ones, and to see friends more regularly.
- The plans also include moving and reading more and enjoying things that I haven't had time for so much. There is certainly more time for volunteer work as well, says Irma.
The entire people of Liiver warmly thank Irma for the past years and wish her a life-filled retirement!
Kylille III is a joint project of South Ostrobothnia's Leader groups, where four village experts work. In the project, various works are carried out to develop the villages. The themes of the development work are safety and preparedness, know-how, increasing well-being and sustainability. The Kylille III project will continue until next summer, and agrologist Anne Palohuhta will start as a village expert in Liiver in January 2023.