Volunteering Increases Happiness

Head Quarter room for The Tall Ships Races is buzzing with activity the day before the event. Ada Almusa, 43, a volunteer in the Head Quarter room, is distributing briefcases filled with instructions and supplies for the liaison officers. Ada Almusa, 43, is a volunteerin the Head Quarter room, is distributing briefcases filled with instructions and supplies for the liaison officers. Despite it being her second day at TSR, she efficiently answers questions, finds a pen, and ensures each briefcase contains correctly sized shirts.

Almusa, who works as a service manager in international financial management systems, spends six days of her summer vacation volunteering.

She explains, As a volunteer, I gain much more than it sounds! I experience the joy of doing and giving, share my expertise, and see how a large event is organized without being responsible for the big picture. Studies show that happiness increases with volunteering!

In her role as an HQ duty officer, which began on Tuesday, Almusa helped pack supplies for other volunteers and assisted with the practical preparations for the event organized by Sail Training International (STI). HQ duty officers handle various tasks, including errands, catering, and access control.

Although TSR is Almusa’s first major event as a volunteer, she has experience with various volunteer roles for the City of Helsinki, such as a hut keeper, reading ambassador, and ticket seller. Her interest in sailing was sparked by a public sailing trip on the gun sloop Diana off Suomenlinna last summer. Since then, she has participated in sails on the ketch Astrid and the schooner Ihana and started following ships on social media, where she first learned about the Tall Ships Races.

The first days as a volunteer have been busy but rewarding. HQ duty officers might not go to sea, but they get to experience the atmosphere and meet new people.

Almusa says, I didn’t know anyone here before, but everyone has been nice, and it’s been fun. Volunteering offers real engagement and the joy of giving!

A total of 200 volunteers have signed up for the Tall Ships Races Helsinki. About 20 HQ duty officers work in the Head Quarter room at Marina Congress Center, assisting STI and the Helsinki Events Foundation. Additionally, there are 60 liaison officers, each assigned to a ship to act as a link between the port and the crew.

Volunteer tasks are available in the event center, media center and accreditation, info points, guidance, area construction and decoration, crew programs, public programs, and other event production roles. The emphasis in all activities is on responsibility. Most volunteers work in information and various recycling-related tasks. Volunteers play a crucial role in assisting and advising both ship crews and the public.