Omankielinen Digikaveri wins the Digitukiteko 2026 award

Deeds strengthening people's confidence in their digital skills and trust in public services and society were sought for the Digiteko recognition award 2026. The panel that selected the award recipient praises the Omankielinen Digikaveri activity for its safe and practical way of providing support to people who need it.

Two honourable mentions were granted in connection with the recognition award. They were given to the AI Customer Assistant of Päijät-Häme Wellbeing Services County and the public service announcements on digitalisation produced in the Digibuusti! project of JAMK University of Applied Sciences and the Summer University of Jyväskylä.

Support received in one’s own language provides confidence in using digital services

Omankielinen Digikaveri is the City of Helsinki's operating model for digital support to elderly immigrants. In a pilot project aimed at speakers of Ukrainian, participants have been able to practise digital skills in their own language. The activities combine the digital support provided by the city, volunteers in the participants’ own language and peer support. 

In addition to using digital services, the participants familiarise themselves with public services, the operation of the authorities and secure use of digital services. The activities strengthen both their practical digital skills and their understanding of Finnish society. The panel found the operating model participant-oriented and practical and also saw possibilities for its wider use.

– Encounters increase trust. When people receive support in their own language and an opportunity to ask questions and practise in peace, their understanding increases and the threshold for using digital services becomes lower. At the same time, it strengthens the feeling that they too can do things and cope, says Marja Säikkä from the City of Helsinki.

Honourable mentions granted to new ways of providing digital support

The AI Customer Assistant of Päijät-Häme Wellbeing Services County provides low-threshold digital support 24 hours a day as part of the county’s website and its Päijät-Sote application. The customer can familiarise themselves with the digital use of services in peace and look for support at their own pace. The panel praised the open-minded and customer-oriented use of artificial intelligence and the possibilities to expand the operating model. 

The public service announcements on digitalisation in the Digibuusti! project of JAMK University of Applied Sciences and the Summer University of Jyväskylä combine up-to-date information, contributions from experts and personal guidance. Thirty-nine public service announcements on digitalisation have been organised in the project and they have reached over 2,400 people. The panel praised the broad cooperation carried out in the activities and the easily approachable way of strengthening people’s digital competence.

This year's award recipients show that digital support can be provided in many ways.  The support may be based on face-to-face encounters and a common language, on the use of artificial intelligence or on public service announcements aimed at the general public.

Digiteko recognition award was presented in Oulu

The Digitukiteko recognition award is granted annually for insightful and customer-oriented development of digital support and digital competence. In 2026, the theme of the recognition award was trust. 

The recipient of the recognition award and the honourable mentions were selected by a panel consisting of Susanna Niinivaara, Director of Communications at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency; Sirkka-Liisa Mikkonen, Chair of the Council for Older People of North Ostrobothnia Wellbeing Services County; and Sirpa Hirvonen, Coordinator of voluntary work at HelsinkiMission.

The recognition award and the honourable mentions were presented at Digituen antajien verkostoitumispäivä (the Networking Day of Digital Support Providers) organised in Oulu on 7 October 2026.