Communications Intern Verna Vaattovaara Is Interested in the Role of Foundations in Society

Verna Vaattovaara is working as a Communications Intern at Kone Foundation during the spring 2026. She contributes to daily content creation on social media and the website, helps produce the Foundation’s annual report, and participates in organizing the Foundation’s events.

Verna is a Society and Change student at the University of Helsinki. She was selected for the internship through an open application process, and the Kone Foundation is her first internship in the field of communications.

Previously, Verna has worked at the Linnanmäki amusement park, which is also run by a foundation: the Children’s Day Foundation maintains the park to raise funds for child welfare work. Verna has worked at Linnanmäki for several seasons, first as a ride operator and later as a supervisor of ride operators.

“I’m broadly interested in societal topics, and what attracted me to Kone Foundation was the opportunity to look at the world from the perspective of the foundation sector. The importance of impactful communication is emphasized in these times, and foundations, as societal actors, are also expected to use their voice actively,” Verna says.

She is also interested in the opportunity to delve into research communications during the internship.

“The main task of communications at Kone Foundation is to make the work of its grant recipients visible. I’m interested in making science accessible, so the opportunities related to that at the foundation feel especially exciting.”

Three Questions for the Communications Intern

What has it been like to start working at the Foundation?
The first weeks have been interesting and educational. In the Foundation’s daily work, a value-driven approach is emphasized. Things are considered carefully and solutions are sought together. Even lunch conversations bring out a wide range of knowledge and expertise—it feels like our work community has insight on just about any topic! In the communications team, I’ve been able to work on quite diverse topics. Even routine tasks offer glimpses into research and art projects that I might not otherwise become familiar with. At the same time, I’m getting a clearer picture of the wide range of funded projects and how interesting communication angles can be found in very different subjects for different audiences.

What do you like to do outside of work?
I enjoy climbing and spending time outdoors. Now, as spring approaches, I’m happy that it will soon be possible to spend days in the park or in the courtyard of my apartment building—reading a book or doing crossword puzzles.

If you were an animal, what would you be?
Maybe an otter! Otters are playful, and when they sleep, they hold each other’s paws, so they don’t drift apart. One of my goals for next summer is to see an otter in the wild!