The Rotary Clubs of Kluuvi, Leppävaara, and Tikkurila took part for the eighth time in the 4H Summer of Entrepreneurship project, which supports young entrepreneurs in cooperation with the Helsinki Metropolitan Area 4H Association.
The 4H enterprise model is designed for young people aged 13–28 who want to explore small-scale entrepreneurship. As a 4H entrepreneur, a young person can safely try running a business while receiving guidance and support from their personal business mentor and the 4H Association. In 2024, there were 2,770 4H enterprises in Finland, with a total turnover of €4.45 million.
Each participant in the Summer of Entrepreneurship received business training, mentoring, and a business voucher from the City of Helsinki to cover start-up costs. In addition, numerous activities promoting entrepreneurship and community spirit were organized — including pop-up sales events, supplementary training, and informal gatherings.
Rotary’s role in the project was to act as an advisor and sponsor of awards. Project mentors were available to the young participants as needed, both in person and by phone.
In 2024, the Helsinki Metropolitan Area 4H Association decided to organize a larger event — Yritysareena (“Enterprise Arena”) — where the best business ideas were recognized. This perfectly matched the goals of the Rotary project, as dozens of young people attended the event and were introduced to Rotary’s activities for the first time.
At the Enterprise Arena 2025 event, the focus was on youth and entrepreneurship. The event once again showcased the innovation, courage, and potential of young people. At Helsinki City Hall, a large audience of hundreds explored the services and products of 4H entrepreneurs, listened to inspiring business stories and speeches, and witnessed the awarding of 4H entrepreneurs.
The afternoon culminated in the exciting From Idea to Enterprise competition final, where classes from five educational institutions developed brand-new business ideas, either individually or in pairs. The expert jury included Tomi Alakoski, CEO of 4H Finland; Jukka Elo from the Rotary Club of Kluuvi; Helsinki City Councillor Krishna Regmi; and Juuso Häyhä, founder of the 4H enterprise Bikeboost. The competition evaluated the feasibility and innovativeness of the business ideas, as well as how well they reflected the values of 4H and Rotary.
“As Rotarians, we can be proud to have been involved in the early stages of this project — in ideation and launch. The 4H Association greatly values our long-term commitment and recognizes us as an official partner,” said Jukka Elo of the Rotary Club of Kluuvi.
“Through this project, Rotary connects with energetic young people who are helping to build Finland’s vitality. The project is a wonderful example of encouraging youth entrepreneurship, which is one of the cornerstones of Finland’s growth.”
The top three winners of the From Idea to Enterprise competition were awarded Rotary Scholarships.
The From Idea to Enterprise project spreads positive awareness of Rotary and inspires young people to engage with Rotary activities later in life. It lays a solid foundation for future interest in joining Rotary. Cooperation with the 4H Association also demonstrates Rotary’s constructive and socially responsible commitment to supporting Finland’s youth and future.
Caption: Rotarian Jukka Elo together with 4H representatives at Yritysareena in Helsinki City Hall.
