International Women’s Club (IWC) organised an interesting and unusual event “Unboxing the Finnish Baby Box” on 7th October in the Residence of the Ambassador of Finland to Serbia.
The Finnish maternity package, the “Baby Box”, has for several decades been the only one of its kind worldwide. It is a state-provided, subjective benefit for any Finnish parent expecting or adopting a child, first introduced to Finnish mothers over 80 years ago. The box contains a wide range of essential and useful items, for example, baby clothes and childcare products. Altogether there are around 40 different items in the box, and over 35 000 boxes are handed out yearly.
The IWC members had a unique opportunity to take part in unboxing a real Finnish baby box and to learn more about the history and development of the box. The event was hosted by Mrs Pia Kaikonen and Mrs Sara Härmälä at the residence of the Ambassador of Finland.
Lassi Härmälä, Chargé d’affaires a.i. welcomed the guests at the Residence after which Sara Härmälä, his spouse, gave a presentation about the Finnish maternity package.
Ever since the 1940’s all mothers-to-be in Finland despite income level have received a governmental maternity package or so-called ”baby box”. This cardboard box full of baby necessities has over the years helped to reduce infant mortality rates and offer every child an equal start to life.
