CA4 International Director

Presentation of PCC Pirkko Vihavainen, MD107 Finland

 

 Member and Charter President of LC Juva/Luonteri,
 Home
    In Juva, Southern Savo
 Family
    Spouse PDG Markku Vihavainen, Master of Administrative Sciences
    Three children, five grandchildren at the age of 3 – 19 years
 Education and profession
    Master of Philosophy, major in Swedish language
    The head teacher at secondary school in Juva (ages 13 -16) 1987 -2014, retirement
    Praxis in teaching at every level from elementary school to adult education
 Lions
    Spouse 1987 - and Lion 2004-
    DG 2010 -2011
    Scandinavian More Women in Lions team 2014 - 2017
    CC 2018 -2019
    Finland’s coordinator of New Voices 2019 -2020
    Member of New Voices Europe team 2021-
 Languages
    Finnish, Swedish, English, German and elementary knowledge in Estonian and Russian

I would like to share some of my thoughts about Lionism and my life. In what kind of a world will our children and grandchildren grow up? It is hard to imagine. In any case, it is sure that our societies are changing and there will be more serving needs and they differ from today’s needs. We live in very different environments and circumstances in our countries around the world. Therefore, we cannot expect that similar action and serving activities take place in my little town Juva, in Helsinki or in big cities like London, New York or New Delhi. But every way of serving and acting is important and valuable.

I have often had to think about how to spend my money. Sometimes you may think about the same thing. You value things and decide what you necessarily need or love very much. That kind of issues I see also in Lions at every level, in clubs, districts, MDs and LCI. We have to focus our work on the most important thing: serving. At every level our organization has its task to support members in their work for a better world. I like very much our IP Douglas Alexander’s slogan ‘Serving from the Heart’. As CC my slogan was ‘We serve with the Heart’. Whatever we do, let us do it with the heart. Also, and especially, the most difficult decisions at every level, from clubs to LCI board, must always focus on serving.

I live in the countryside with my spouse PDG Markku. Our home lies twenty kilometers away from the nearest supermarkets. But we are lucky to live close to the nature, forests, paths and ski tracks - and by Saimaa, the biggest lake in Finland. We are happy that we can always welcome our children and grandchildren to the place where our children grew up. I do hope that they can enjoy clear waters and unpolluted nature in the future as well.

Because of long distances in the countryside, in a small community with old and not very rich people I also have the understanding of different possibilities we have around the world. I want to appreciate every serving act and project, due to the needs and possibilities. It is not only money but also helping hands that the world needs – and love and kindness in their various forms.