About Taksvärkki / ODW Finland
Operation a Day’s Work (ODW) Finland is a non-governmental organization (NGO) whose objective is to improve the living conditions and promote the human rights of children and young people in developing countries and to encourage Finnish young people towards global solidarity. We work towards a world where children and young people have an active role.
ODW Finland is one of the first Finnish young people’s own development NGOs. We have implemented development cooperation projects since 1967 with funds raised by Finnish schoolchildren and students. We also organize the ODW fundraising events that have become an institution in Finland and provide high-quality development education.
The annual ODW Workday is one of the highlights of the Finnish school year. It is when pupils and students spend a day working and donate their pay to ODW Finland for projects that improve the conditions of children and young people in developing countries. This allows Finnish youth to help their peers in the Global South while also catching a glimpse of what working life is like.
We are an ideologically, politically and religiously non-aligned organization with nine member organizations: student and trade unions, peace organizations and the Evangelical Lutheran Association for Youth in Finland. Our operations are governed by our Board consisting of the elected representatives of our members. See a list of our member organizations.
Contact us:
ODW Finland / Taksvärkki ry
+358 (0)50 341 5507
taksvarkki@taksvarkki.fi
Siltasaarenkatu 4, 7.krs,
Globaalikeskus
00530 Helsinki
Finland
Taksvärkki's Vision and Mission
Vision
A sustainable and just world where the human rights of every young person are fulfilled.
Mission
By combining global citizenship education and development cooperation, we promote the human rights of children and young people. We strengthen the understanding of young people, the adults working with them, and decision-makers about global justice and its challenges. We support youth action for a more equitable world both in Finland and around the world.
Taksvärkki's Values
Equity
Taksvärkki’s work is based on human rights as defined in international agreements. Taksvärkki’s operations aim at global equity and sustainable development.
Non-discrimination
For Taksvärkki, all people are equal. We focus on young people. The equal agency of young people can best be strengthened by supporting opportunities for all youth in their communities and by addressing structural discrimination. We pay attention to minorities and people in vulnerable positions, such as people with disabilities.
Equality
Taksvärkki understands equality and non-discrimination broadly, including both the empowerment of people in vulnerable positions and the promotion of gender equality in the society at large. We recognize gender diversity and dismantle barriers to equality.
Hope
Taksvärkki’s view of the future is positive and hopeful. Even complex global challenges, such as inequality and climate change, can be influenced with increased mutual understanding. Young people and their active agency create hope now and for the future. Adults have the responsibility to create opportunities for a better future for young people.
Development Cooperation Program 2022–2025
During the 2022–2025 program period Taksvärkki’s development cooperation program will be implemented in Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Zambia. It will be implemented by local youth organizations, supporting them to strengthen local civil society. This cooperation requires shared values and objectives to promote active citizenship.
Taksvärkki's Development Cooperation Program
Read our Development Cooperation Program (pdf) for the years 2022–2025.
Evaluation of Taksvärkki's Program (2022–2025)
External evaluation of Taksvärkki’s Development Cooperation Program was completed in December 2024. You can download the evaluation report on this page:
Taksvärkki Program Evaluation 2022–2025, final report (pdf).
Evaluation of Disability Inclusion
In 2024 external evaluators conducted a review of the disability inclusion in
Taksvärkki’s development cooperation projects.
Review on the Efforts of Mainstreaming Disability Inclusion in Taksvärkki’s Program (pdf).
Do you want to know more about the evaluations?
Please contact veera.blomster@taksvarkki.fi.
Taksvärkki's Operating Principles
Strategy of Taksvärkki / ODW Finland
Taksvärkki’s strategy took effect from November 2024.
Strategy of Taksvärkki ODW Finland (pdf).
Ethical principles and operating instructions of Taksvärkki / ODW Finland
Taksvärkki’s ethical principles and operating instructions for personnel, board members, volunteers and others acting on behalf of the organization.
Ethical principles of Taksvärkki ODW Finland (pdf).
Taksvärkki is committed to these Guidelines for Ethical Development Communications produced by Fingo, the umbrella organization for Finnish development NGOs.
Do you want to know more or express concerns? Please contact taksvarkki@taksvarkki.fi.
Taksvärkki ry / ODW Finland’s Partners
With financial support by
History of ODW Finland– Action since 1967
The Operation a Day’s Work movement originated in Sweden in 1961, as students wished to honor the memory of the late Dag Hammarskjöld, Secretary General of the UN who got killed in an air crash, by organizing a fundraising event. Known as a peacemaker and advocate for global solidarity, Hammarskjöld inspired students to start a collection entitled “En dag för Dag” (A Day for Dag). Later, the name evolved into Dagsverke. Soon Dagsverke – or Operation a Day’s Work – spread to other Nordic countries, as well.
The Taksvärkki collection was first organized in Finland in 1967 when student organizations raised money for a project in Peru. During the first three years, students took care of the collection themselves, but soon ODW Finland’s other member organizations joined in, the Lutheran Church and different organizations of wage earners among others. Nowadays, a large part of Finnish schoolchildren, students and wage earners are directly or indirectly involved in ODW Finland’s work.
In the 1970s and 1980s, ODW campaigns were organized every two or three years, but since the mid-1990s, they have been arranged annually, and the collection has become a yearly tradition in many Finnish schools.
The non-governmental organization ODW Finland was founded in 1989 in order to continue the work of the ODW committees. To guarantee the sustainability of development cooperation efforts, an office with permanent staff was set up. At the moment, ODW Finland has seven paid employees.