Award ceremonies for mothers as educators held exceptionally this autumn

This year, mothers were awarded decorations for their merits as educators at regional ceremonies held on Universal Children’s Day on 20 November 2021.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the national Mother’s Day celebration was not organised this or last year. Traditionally, the decorations are presented at the national Mother’s Day ceremony.

The district organisations of the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, together with the Regional State Administrative Agencies, organised nine regional ceremonies where the decorations were presented. The ceremonies were held in Rovaniemi, Oulu, Ylihärmä, Kankaanpää, Tampere, Turku, Jyväskylä, Kouvola and Helsinki. The mothers awarded in 2020 and 2021 received their decorations at these ceremonies. 

Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen congratulated the mothers by video.  

In 2020, a total of 36 mothers were awarded and, this year, altogether 29. Mothers were awarded for the first time in 1946 so this year marks the 75th time that decorations are presented in Finland. In celebration of the anniversary year, the Orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland have published on their joint website the names of all mothers awarded since 1946.

Awarded mothers have distinguished themselves as exemplary educators of children and young people

A Medal First Class with Gold Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland can be awarded to mothers of different ages from various spheres of life and fields of work. The awarded have distinguished themselves as exemplary educators of children and young people. The aim is that the awarded mothers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, such as working and single mothers and mothers from rural communities, and represent different minorities, such as Roma and Saami people and immigrants.

The number of children is not a determining factor for the award. The minimum age for nominees is 40. In addition to biological mothers, adoptive and foster mothers may be nominated for the award. Consideration is also given to nominees’ more extensive societal responsibilities and activities as educators, such as participation in the activities of child welfare and family organisations, youth and sports organisations, local education committees or parents’ associations.

Inquiries

Emi Maeda, Coordinator, Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, emi.maeda(a)mll.fi, tel. +358 50 4655 636
Eveliina Kutila, Press Officer, Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, eveliina.kutila(a)mll.fi, tel. +358 40 580 2393
Eija Paananen, Assistant, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, eija.paananen(a)gov.fi, tel. +358 2951 63533