Pasi Aromäki volunteers as school mentor in Turku

Pasi Aromäki, the former urban development director of Kaarina, has transitioned from a 40-year career in planning to volunteering as a school mentor in Turku, Finland. After retiring in early 2020, Aromäki sought to perform meaningful volunteer work, a goal he had considered since his working years.

Since autumn 2021, Aromäki has spent two days a week at Lauste School and Luostarivuori Upper Secondary School. His role involves assisting during Finnish language and mathematics lessons, helping students stay focused on tasks, and supporting teachers in maintaining a calm classroom environment. He notes that his role is not to replace professional educators but to provide an adult presence that can help settle restless students.