Niemikoti Foundation’s 2026 lived experience expert training programme culminated in a graduation celebration at Kesäharju on 9 October. The training emphasises learning together, discovering personal strengths and finding opportunities to influence society.
Autumn at Kesäharju provided a beautiful and welcoming setting for the graduation celebration of the 2026 lived experience expert trainees. Participants praised the sense of community and the surroundings at the camp that concluded the training programme.
“I felt like I had come home,” one participant described their experience in their feedback.
The training also generated valuable feedback for improvement, which will be used to develop future programmes. Lived experience experts themselves play a significant role in designing and delivering the training content. In 2027, the programme will comprise 60 hours of training.
Learning together and gaining new perspectives
Niemikoti Foundation’s lived experience expert training is based on the principles of critical pedagogy, where learning takes place through interaction, shared reflection and participants’ own experiences. Trainers and participants learn from one another, rather than knowledge flowing in only one direction.
The underlying idea is that recognising personal strengths, developing independent thinking and acquiring new skills empower people to influence their own lives and the society around them. Everyone has valuable knowledge and experience that can contribute to building a shared understanding.
Lived experience helps change attitudes
One of the main goals of the training programme is to reduce prejudice associated with mental health conditions and strengthen the role of lived experience knowledge in society.
At the same time, the training supports participants in building meaningful lives while living with mental health conditions. Working as a lived experience expert opens up opportunities for participation, belonging to a community and influencing society.
Graduation therefore marks not only the end of a training programme but also the beginning of new opportunities for active participation. Personal experiences can become a source of strength, enabling people to support others, increase understanding and help build a more equal society.
