We assisted the association U-landshjälp från Folk till Folk i Finland rf in a reorganisation of its activities. The association, which is to be dissolved, established a foundation to continue the association’s operations. The transformation of the association into a foundation ensures that the association can continue its activities without altering its original purpose and sustainably support climate work and global development in the future.

In the reorganisation, the association transferred its assets and liabilities and operations to the newly established foundation in their entirety. The association’s personnel also transferred to the foundation as existing employees. In the final stage of the reorganisation, the association will be dissolved.

U-landshjälp från Folk till Folk i Finland sr will continue to be known by its familiar acronym UFF in the future. The former association will continue to promote the public good as a foundation by maintaining a recycling service in Finland and supporting development work in Africa and India. Through the recycling of clothes, UFF aims to bring about sustainable development that reduces extreme poverty in the world. UFF supports education, food security and income-earning opportunities in Africa and India. It also brings Finns into contact with sustainable development and the affairs of the developing world. In addition to the collection of clothes and donations, the foundation’s activities are made possible by state aid granted by Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the support of the European Union.

 

Virve Groning, UFF sr’s Managing Director:

‘The reorganisation has been a unique moment in UFF’s history. Our objectives were to strengthen the conditions for our future activities and to ensure the continuity of the organisation’s original missions: to support climate work and global development for sustainability. Thanks to Castrén & Snellman’s comprehensive expertise, we have been able to ensure that all the necessary aspects are covered in the reorganisation. By overseeing the change process in a careful and proactive way, we achieved reliable continuity for our practical service work in society, both for our climate service in Finland and our global development programme.’ 

Latest references

We advised the Hospital District of Southwest Finland and other founders in a pro bono assignment to establish a foundation dedicated to the development and conservation of the Paimio Sanatorium designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto. The foundation will conserve the internationally renowned architecture and significant cultural capital of the properties of the tuberculosis sanatorium. The task of the foundation is to preserve the complex formed by the buildings and furnishings. ‘Castrén & Snellman’s wide expertise and excellent service were of great help to us throughout the project from start to finish. In the course of establishing the foundation, we came across issues that we had not fully anticipated, but with Castrén & Snellman’s experts we were able to find feasible solutions‘, said  Heikki Aalto-Alanen , member of the board of directors of the foundation. ‘We truly appreciate that they chose to support us pro bono and make their expertise available to this project. The conservation of the Paimio Sanatorium is a project of exceptional importance even on an international scale ’,  Aalto-Alanen continues. Plans are for the sanatorium to host, amongst other things, a variety of cultural events in the future. The foundation was established by the Hospital District of Southwest Finland, the State of Finland, the Alvar Aalto Foundation and the cities of Paimio and Turku. The former owner of the sanatorium, the Hospital District of Southwest Finland, transferred the sanatorium properties, including all buildings and furnishings, to the foundation. The establishment of the foundation is the result of an inquiry into the future of Paimio Sanatorium launched by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of the Environment in 2019.
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