Åland Post is pleased to announce that €1,500 from the sale of the 2024 Christmas stamps has been donated to the 4-H Åland District. The Christmas seal grant will be used for two environmentally oriented projects: the purchase of magnetic fishing gear for the children's fishing school and materials for a course in building nest boxes.
“Christmas seals are more than just decoration. They spread joy on Christmas packages and support Åland associations as well. This year, it feels great that we, together with our customers and collectors, can contribute to the joy of discovery in nature for children and young people”, says Gunilla Häggblom, PR & Communication Stamps at Åland Post Stamps.
Proceeds from the sale of Christmas seals are distributed as Christmas seal grants every year. The beneficiary of the 2024 Christmas seal grant is the 4-H Åland District.
“We are delighted and grateful for the contribution. We will be organizing a nest building course after the summer, led by our 16-year-old assistant leader Oscar. The finished nest boxes will be set up along a nature trail near the 4-H farm in Jomala. Also, thanks to the support, more children can try magnet fishing in our fishing school at the same time,” says Marina Ekqvist, operations manager of 4-H Åland.
“We often have a waiting list for the one set of magnetic fishing gear we currently own, so more sets are eagerly awaited. We have fishing meetings for children between the ages of 9 and 15 years in both spring and autumn, and in the summer, we also arrange a fishing camp in the archipelago,” says Anki Håkans, who runs the children's fishing school.
4-H Åland currently has around 250 members and arranges, among other activities, clubs, courses, summer camps, and cooking classes, as well as afternoon activities for students in grades 3–6 in Åland schools. In addition, the 4-H farm in Jomala is open weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm and is frequently visited by both locals and tourists, especially during the summer.
About Christmas seals
Åland Post has been issuing Christmas seals since 1993. Christmas seals are self-adhesive stickers for decorating letters and packages. Funds from the annual sale are distributed as Christmas seal grants in support of socially useful projects in Åland.
Recipients in previous years include the Red Cross Åland District, Fältarna (youth workers), the Åland Group for Borrelia Research, and the food service program Matbanken.
Åland Post presented a diploma and a bouquet of flowers to 4-H Åland District's operations manager Marina Ekqvist (centre), together with Anki Håkans (left) and Malin Hagström (right).