Activities for people living with HIV
Page last reviewed 24.3.2025
Hivpoint’s courses and meetings for HIV-positive people are open and confidential
In 2025, Hivpoint plans to organise open meetings and one free weekend course for families with children where one or more family members are living with HIV. The aim of the course and events is to support the well-being and functional capacity of the participants and to find resources for living with HIV.
The course provides both professional support and peer support. Open meetings will take place in Helsinki and may last for half a day or a full day.
The course will be held in Southern Finland and will last for 23 days.
Activities for PLWH 2025
Innovation Day, April 5
Innovation Day is for all people living with HIV and with an interest in promoting health and well-being of PLWH. The event will be held on April 5th from 10 am to 3 pm.
In the Innovation Day, experiences and ideas are shared together about how to tell a loved one, especially a child, about HIV, and what kind of support is needed for that.
If you are attending with a child or children, during the Innovation Day, children get to spend time in the indoor playground with experienced babysitters. The Innovation Day program is free of charge. During the day, lunch is served for both adults and children.
Languages used: Finnish, English and Russian.
Innovation Day is organized in Helsinki.
A more detailed program and location will be sent to those registered for the day.
Well-being Day, May 17
The Well-being Day is intended for single parents living with HIV and immigrant background. There will be a discussion about living with HIV and parenting, as well as professional support for families’ well-being and coping with family stress and the demands of everyday life.
A more detailed program and schedule will be announced later.
Registration opens in April!
Animal-assisted course, June 6 – 8
The course is intended for all those who arrived from Ukraine and whose family includes an HIV positive family member. The course offers families the opportunity for peer support, professional support, refreshment and relaxation. The working methods of the course are guided group discussions and animal-assisted activities with dogs and donkeys. The topics covered in the course are related to living with HIV and stigma. A separate program has been organized for children during the adults’ program.
The course can be held in Finnish and English, and the course also has Ukrainian interpretation.
Details, more information and Registration for the course:
Niina Laaksonen, niina.laaksonen(at)hivpoint.fi, 040 778 9881
Multicultural family course, August 29–31
The course is intended for all families with an immigrant background that include an HIV-positive family member. The course offers families the opportunity for peer support, professional support, refreshment and relaxation. The working methods of the course are guided group discussions and functional methods. The course offers a nice time together.
The topics covered in the course are related to the everyday life of a family with children. A separate program has been organized for children during the adults’ program.
You can talk to the course employee in Finnish, English and Russian. In other languages, we use interpreter services.
Registration starts in May!
If you want more information about the course or need help filling out the application form, please contact:
Batulo Essak, batulo.essak(at)hivpoint.fi, 040 778 9861
The impact of HIV on parenting – an open meeting for families with children, October 4
An open meeting is intended for families with children where one or more family members are living with HIV. Under the guidance of a professional, the meeting will discuss the impact of HIV on parenting and the everyday life of families with children.
Hivpoint courses allow you to discuss your and your family’s situation in confidence. HIV affects all families taking part in the course in some way.
Registration for the meeting will open later in the autumn.
What activities take place during classes and meetings?
Courses and meetings have professionally directed group work for adults. Children have their own program during the adult program. Courses and events may include expert lectures, group discussions, and recreational activities. The courses also provide an opportunity for one-on-one discussions with a Hivpoint employee. At open events, it is possible to arrange a separate one-on-one meeting with a Hivpoint employee at a later date.
Themes discussed in meetings and courses may include:
- HIV medication
- Communicating HIV infection
- Disclosing your HIV status
- The Impact of HIV on Couples
- HIV’s impact on parenting
Participants may also make their own requests for the course and meetings programs.
Both during the course and the meetings, a separate program is planned for children while the adults have their program, with childcare provided on Hivpoint’s behalf.
Please note that there is always a separate application period for the course and events and pre-registration is always required.
” During the course I got peer support and it made me realize that I’m not alone with my situation. I was able to share my thoughts for the first time in my life. Listening to the experiences from various people gave me tips to organize my everyday life.”
Course participant
Who are the course and meeting instructors?
The instructors are Hivpoint experts who are trained health and social care professionals. There may also be visiting/guest experts on the course.
”I got so much new information about HIV-treatment and a lot of help and advice from the workers. I felt safe and they were kind and caring.”
Course participant
Costs of meetings and courses
Meetings and courses are free of charge for participants, with the exception of travel expenses. If travel expenses prevent you from participating, please contact Batulo Essak, batulo.essak(at)hivpoint.fi.
Please note that applying for the course and the application accepted for the course is binding.
In the event of cancellation or non-entry of a course without a valid reason, we will charge a fee.
Who can apply for the course and open events?
The course is aimed at families with children whose family includes a person living with HIV. We prioritise new participants who have recently joined our activities, are getting to know our services and need support in living with HIV. We particularly consider a participant’s life situation which may indicate their need for support. Priority is given to participants for whom living with is newly diagnosed with HIV and the participant is adjusting to the new everyday life with HIV. Also, a recently changed life situation (for example, a new partner and relationship or family planning) can raise new types of HIV issues and temporarily increase the need for support.
The open events are aimed at all HIV-positive people, however, family members are also welcome.
Positiiviset Ry’s/HivFinland Courses
Positiiviset Ry/HivFinland organises courses for those living with HIV. In the courses, you can meet other HIV-positive people and their loved ones, exchange experiences of living with HIV, and enjoy relaxing together. In addition to informal socialising, the courses also include other activities.