Who are we?
Our mission is to inspire young people to make a difference in the world by voluntary work. By having the human dignity of people as a core of our actions, we encourage the young to engage in social development projects that help the neediest. We want to serve them and have an open mindset to be able to share with, and learn from them. We believe that by supporting solidarity today, we build a better society tomorrow.
International Youth Cooperation Suomi ry is a youth association operating in Finland since 2015 and established legally in 2017. It is as local branch of the network International Youth Cooperation, non-governmental organisation present in 11 European countries with more than 25 years of experience.
What do we do?
To fulfill our mission, we:
- Organize events that inspire youth to volunteer and live for others;
- Coordinate learning, training and formation events that help volunteers to develop their skills
- Foster equality opportunities among young people, regardless their sex, race, or background.
- Offer courses and activities that help our volunteers and other young people to find meaningfulness in their life.
- Set campaigns and teambuilding events to grant visibility to solidarity as value.
- Cooperate in international projects with similar goals, exchanges and volunteering activities.
- Raise and collect funds to undertake these objectives.
More information about IYC at https://iyouthc.org
María Rodríguez-Ferro
María holds a Bachelor’s in Journalism and a Master’s in Secondary Education. She previously worked with IYC Madrid as the coordinator of socio-educational support for children in the Vallecas neighborhood, partnering with families and schools to strengthen learning and well-being. At IYC Suomi, she brings a calm, people-first approach—listening closely, organizing clearly, and helping programs run smoothly. In her free time, she enjoys fashion and walks in nature.
Jaime Mancebo
Jaime holds a double degree in Business Administration and Marketing. Originally from Spain, he believes professional skills should serve the common good. At IYC Suomi, he supports projects with a structured approach and an eye for detail, helping plan clearly and learn as they go. Outside of work, he enjoys football and basketball and values the sense of community that sports create.
Pedro Portugal
Pedro is a physicist from Brazil, living in Finland for over five years. While his research at Aalto University is related to quantum physics, he finds purpose in giving back to the community. He discovered IYC through his wife, Raquel, and has since participated in some of their volunteer projects. Pedro’s passions extend beyond the lab; he believes in using his knowledge to contribute to society and building a strong foundation for his family.
Ilari Keinänen
Ilari holds a Master’s degree in Maritime Law, a Bachelor’s in Law, and has studied Theology and Social Psychology. He works in the legal field and brings a thoughtful, values-driven approach to his work. Ilari enjoys walking in nature, spending time with his family, and finds deep meaning in life's small details. He has left his smartphone behind to reconnect with the present moment and live more intentionally. Ilari believes that "in the end, everything works out, one way or another", and he brings that calm confidence to everything he does. He got to know IYC Suomi through a friend and shared its values and commitment to empowering young people. He is a member of the board, contributing with his experience and perspective to help the organisation grow.
Raquel Amaral
Raquel is a graduate in Psychology and holds a master's degree in clinical psychology. She worked as a psychotherapist and is currently working as a life coach. Because of her experience in organising social initiatives, Raquel developed leadership skills, creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. Raquel is a Brazilian, currently living in Finland, where she met IYC and started working closely with them.
María Rezola de Vargas
María holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy and a specialisation in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language. Her passion for helping others has always been part of her life, volunteering was something she regularly did in Spain, and she was eager to find a similar opportunity in Finland. As a member of IYC's team, she provides support to the rest of the team so that, together we reach the goals of the organisation's projects. María believes that kindness should be the engine that moves the world. She loves sports, good food, and above all, spending time with her family. She tries to bring heart, clarity and purpose to the things she does.
Félix Leminen
Felix is an entrepreneur in the field of educational technology, who focuses especially on language teaching. He aims to promote the skills of young entrepreneurs both in Finland and internationally. Felix appreciates IYC's work for young people and is therefore interested in participating in its board. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and CrossFit.
Gerardo Falcón
Gerardo is a Mexican sustainability professional dedicated to creating positive change. Gerardo has a strong foundation in environmental design and has experience in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Gerardo actively participates in social sustainability initiatives by collaborating with non-governmental organizations to empower marginalized communities and advocate for decent job creation and micro-entrepreneurship, income-generating activities and education for indigenous youth. Gerardo's hobbies are gastronomy, cinema and hiking.
Árpád Demeter
Árpád Demeter has been involved in IYC since 2022. He is studying architecture in his second year at Aalto University and also practices taekwondo in the national team. He has been involved in organizing the events of the international year and volunteered in campaigns whenever possible.