About us

4H is a youth organization for children and young people between ages 6 and 28. Our main task is to help children and young people find their own strengths and give them the opportunity to grow into active, entrepreneurial and responsible adults. It’s also politically and religiously uncommitted.  

In Finland there is nearly 50 000 4H-members in there about 200 associations. At Virrat there are over 200 members from which more than 150 are children and young people.  

4H at Virrat was established in 1938 and that makes us one of the oldest 4H- associations. We do youth work in Virrat, the surrounding areas included. The key elements of our youth work are group activities such as clubs an also employment and enterprises of young people. At Virrat nearly 30 local teenagers have started their own enterprise with our help. We also employ youth to be a part of our club activity as employees. In cooperation with different associates, we also arrange trips, camps and events. You can join in by many ways. You can join as a member, sign up for a voluntary job or buy Seuraa seniorille -services.

4H enterprises

Projects

From January 2022 to May 2023, our association implements a Linkki-project with Leader funding. The main goal of the Linkki-project is to develop together, with partners and young people, a way of working that improves young people's future skills and the vitality of the local area. This way of working travels with the young person through high school and secondary school. In the best case they will stay in the local area to live and possibly become an entrepreneur. 

In 2020-2021, our association implemented a Silta-project with Leader funding. The main goal of the Silta-project was to provide a concrete space where young people who are interested in entrepreneurship got to practice handling things as an entrepreneur. The space was used for education, exercises and guidance of young people’s practice enterprises. 

The aim is to implement the structure and activities of the projects in other places as well.   

We operate in the area of Poko ry. 

Start Your Own 4H Business

4H entrepreneurship is an easy and safe way for young people to try what it’s like to be an entrepreneur. If you are 13–28 years old, you can start your own 4H business after completing the 4H entrepreneurship course, which gives you all the basic skills you need

A 4H business is a hobby-level activity — not a full-time profession. You decide your own pace, your services and how long you want to run your business. It’s a great way to discover whether entrepreneurship suits you.

Your Own Business Idea

Your business doesn’t need to be big or complicated. Many young people base their idea on a hobby or something they already enjoy doing. You can create a completely new idea or use something that already exists.

Examples of popular 4H business ideas:

• baking and selling small food products

• yard work and outdoor tasks

• pet sitting and animal care

• cleaning and household help

• photography

• designing websites

• offering IT help for seniors

Small-scale ideas work perfectly — but larger ones are also allowed as long as your annual sales stay between €50 and €8,000. There are already nearly 1,500 4H businesses in Finland, each one unique and created by young people.

Create Your Own Summer Job

With a 4H business, you can literally create your own summer job. You decide what you offer, when you work and how long your business operates.

For example, you can run your business for two months during the summer and sell refreshments at the beach, do yard work, or offer pet care while people travel. You gain valuable work experience — and employers appreciate this when you apply for future jobs.

As a 4H Entrepreneur, You Will…

• complete the 4H entrepreneurship course

• try entrepreneurship as a hobby for as long as you want

• be a member of your local 4H association

• keep your annual sales between €50–€8,000

• commit to 4H values and operate responsibly

• find a business mentor and sign a guidance agreement

• submit an official 4H business registration

• create a written business plan

• receive a digital 4H Entrepreneur Skills Badge

• possibly earn school credits for your entrepreneurship

• submit an annual activity and financial report

How to Register Your 4H Business

You can start a 4H business when you are 13–28 years old.

1. Log in to your digital 4H membership card: https://oma.4h.fi

2. Select 4H Businesses → Start a New 4H Business

3. Fill in the required information

4. Click Save

5. You can edit your business details later if needed

6. If you are under 18, your guardian must approve your business (they receive a link by email)

7. Your local 4H association will review and approve your business

Once approved, you are officially a 4H entrepreneur and ready to begin