The newly built Kisa Gym in Värtsilä serves a significant portion of the local population, highlighting community involvement and the importance of fitness in small towns.
In the eastern corner of Tohmajärvi municipality, adjacent to a closed border crossing, lies Kisa Gym, where several locals engage in workout sessions. The gym is considered an extraordinary facility for the small village of Värtsilä, home to merely 300 residents, of whom 180 are members of the local sports club. Notably, more than a hundred individuals regularly use the gym, demonstrating its significance to the community.
The success of Kisa Gym can be attributed to the strong sense of community in Värtsilä. The sports club, Värtsilän Kisa, has executed three projects aiming to include local youth in activities, improve employment opportunities, and enhance the gym's facilities. The latest initiative is still ongoing, with volunteers dedicating over 400 hours to support the cause, resulting in funding for new equipment and an air source heat pump, significantly upgrading the gym's offerings.
Some of the new equipment is still on its way to Värtsilä, where it will replace machines that have served the local residents for over 40 years. Eero-Matti Lintunen, the chairman of Värtsilän Kisa, emphasizes the gym's role in promoting fitness culture and community engagement, showing how a small village can come together to achieve great things through collective effort.
