Lasten Kesäleiriyhdistys -76 ry receives funding from STEA (the Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations). Thanks to this support, it is possible to attend Kuru Summer Camp at a reduced, STEA-supported price. With STEA funding, the camp fee is half of the regular price.

This supported holiday program provides campers with encouraging experiences, new friendships, and meaningful, safe summer activities. The camps also support family well-being by helping guardians organize shared holiday time or providing them with opportunities for rest and work during school holidays.

You can also ask your local social services, local church or parish for support with the camp fee, as they often allocate funds for children’s holiday activities.

A supported camp place can be requested by filling out the “Tuettu leiripaikka” sections on the camp application form. The form requires you to provide the reasons for requesting a supported place for the child. A supported camp is granted based on social, health-related, or financial reasons. These reasons may concern either the child attending the camp or the child’s family.

Examples of social reasons:

• The family needs support for coping, not due to lack of social network or risk of social exclusion.
• Family background (e.g., large family, single parent, blended family, adoption, foster care, multicultural or immigrant background).
• Changes in the family or close circle (e.g., divorce, moving, new sibling, death of a loved one, or health and financial changes affecting daily life).
• Loneliness; the camper is looking for new friends or peers for the summer.
• Bullying.
• Learning difficulties.
• Internet or gaming addiction.
• The camper needs support in practicing social skills

Examples of health reasons:

• Child’s long-term illness (e.g., epilepsy, migraine, diabetes, asthma, celiac disease).
• Illness of a family member affecting daily life (e.g., cancer, mental health issues, or addiction).
• Developmental disorder of the child or a family member (e.g., autism, ADHD, language development disorder).
• Family member with intellectual disability or physical, hearing, or visual impairments.

Examples of financial reasons:

• The family has low income (e.g., less than €1,000 per family member).
• The family has debts.
• A guardian is unemployed, on long-term sick leave, a student, or retired.

Note: Unfortunately, STEA funding is not available for campers who live abroad or are in foster care, such as in a professional foster home or a child welfare institution.