Greetings from Kajaani! I’m a teacher of sustainable development at Kainuu Vocational college in Kajaani, Finland. Nature has been important to me my whole life and as a child my parents taught me to take care of it. They gave me the name Talvikki which means Wintergreen.

I studied to become a biology teacher at Turku university. Biology, more specifically plant ecology, was my major subject and I also studied environmental sciences and geography. I taught biology for nearly 20 years in junior high school. Now I teach sustainable development at Kainuu Vocational College. We have one compulsory course of sustainable development’s basics for all our students and several elective courses. The largest study unit that students can do in this subject is Climate responsible action. Our students are eager to study sustainability issues.

Preserving biodiversity is close to my heart as well as all the sustainable development’s sectors. Global problems are huge, but it is possible to influence many things by doing little practical actions. As they say, from little drops, an Ocean is born. Helping other people is also one of my priorities. Therefore I have studied to become a solution focused brief therapist and neuropsychiatric coach.

I spend a lot of time with my family and friends. My family includes a husband, a daughter and two labrador retrievers. Handicrafts are my favorite hobby. If you ever visited Finland, I would recommend Lapland! I think that it is the most beautiful part of our country with little rounded mountains, clear streams and reindeer. It is like a magical wilderness that revives tired souls.