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We'll get through this too.
We'll get through this too.

Blog: The possibility of closed doors

Release
9.4.2020 18:33
Liisa Hupli-Oinonen, director of communications, tells how it all started.

Humans are a peculiar species of creation in that, when faced with a tight spot, they may start to create something new.

I am filled with pride when I watch how the staff of the city of Imatra have successfully weathered quite a few whirlwinds in recent weeks. Things have taken off in a good way on the digital side.

Most of all schools switched to distance learning almost overnight. Both teachers, students, parents and information management professionals adapted and adapted their activities flexibly. Of course, the background of this success is the work that has been going on for a longer time. The devices had already been included in the teaching earlier and the teaching methods were modified. But even fancy equipment doesn't help without people.

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From the first days of the exception, physical education instructors were also activated. They started producing home and balcony dance videos. At home, people apparently do a lot of jumping, because for example, our old children's Hiisi jumping video was watched no fewer than 1339 times on Tuesday of last week.

Vuoksenniska school teacher Mikko Nokelainen and school attendance assistant Sami Käkränen have instead made videos for public distribution about, for example, how to do spring maintenance of a bicycle or a sausage stick. 

The library has produced several book recommendation videos and blogs. Museum curator Kalle Pakarinen, together with the communication team, has made a series in which old Imatra photos are presented in a narrative manner.

Teatteri Imatra actress Hanna Kaskela, on the other hand, wanted to do something nice for the joy of others. Kaskela read and communication recorded the fairy tale on video. The same enthusiasm struck Kaskela's colleagues as well. 

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So my point is that in a very short time, a lot of our city's services have moved online partly out of necessity and partly out of the employees' own creativity, without anyone commanding them.

The meetings have also moved to Teams, even the coffee moments of work groups.

It is also special that the city manager Kaisa Heino has already held three weekly reviews for the entire staff during the exceptional period via Teams. At best, there have been over a hundred viewers and commenters. This week we made some kind of history by organizing a Teams event for the city's top management for the city's residents as well. The feedback has been encouraging, so the continuation will follow.

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A lot has been done, a lot has been learned and a lot still needs to be developed, but the most wonderful thing is the enthusiasm with which one participates. Not afraid of failure or belittlement.

This does not mean that we have forgotten those who do not care about the Internet or cannot use it. 

Stay on the city's channels, i.e. Facebook, website, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. There we share press stories and a variety of current videos.

Thank you, city staff, for what you do and thank you to the townspeople for your encouragement. Let's come up with more ideas together.

 

Liisa Hupli-Oinonen

Communication director of the city of Imatra