The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
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The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
19.08.2024
The Hobby Buddy Service, which was launched in the autumn of 2021 as an activity in the BRIDGES project of the University of Eastern Finland and the Student Union, is a service that has been clearly needed by students. During the years 2021-2023, slightly under 400 students were looking for a hobby buddy and the probability of finding one was over 75% on both campuses.
The Hobby Buddy Service is intended for all students of the University of Eastern Finland who want to make new friends through common hobbies and interests. You can register for the service by filling the application form, after that ISYY’s Community coordinator will search for a suitable match among the other people who have filled the application form.
SYKETTÄ university sports offers ways to find friends who are interested in the same sports activities. SYKETTÄ Joensuu offers Sports Buddy service which works similarly as ISYY’s Hobby Buddy Service, and SYKETTÄ Kuopio has a Discord channel where students can find sports and gaming buddies for various activities. SYKETTÄ sports sticker is not required to use the Sports Buddy service.
The BRIDGES project ended at the end of last year, which is why the Hobby Buddy Service was on a break. However, due to the positive feedback it received, the activity is now set to restart. For example, there was praise for the existence of the service, the ease of it and the fact that through the service you can really find company for your hobbies. Still the service is not completely seamless, as contacting and maintaining communication is the participants’ responsibility.
– I am really excited about the continuation of the Hobby Buddy Service, as it has helped students to find friends and reduced students’ loneliness. Older students might already be familiar with the program, and I am hopeful that freshers will also discover the Hobby Buddy Service. I challenge all students to fill out the application form and to fearlessly reach out to a potential match once a Hobby Buddy is found, encourages Community Coordinator Eveliina Scharin.
Isyy.fi, opens in a new tab: The Hobby Buddy Service
Eveliina Scharin, Community Coordinator, Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY), yk(at)isyy.fi, tel. +358 44 491 6529