In November 2025, FLAME contributed to a UNESCO-certified capacity-building course on the safeguarding of living cultural heritage in Finland, organised by the Finnish Heritage Agency. The training brought together around 40 heritage professionals, practitioners and institutional actors to deepen their understanding of the UNESCO 2003 Convention and to strengthen practical skills for safeguarding living heritage in contemporary contexts 

Building on Finland’s extensive experience of inventorying living heritage, notably through the Finnish Wiki-Inventory, the course focused on safeguarding methodologies and participatory approaches, as well as the development of concrete safeguarding plans. These activities drew on practical materials and workbooks which provided step-by-step guidance. The programme combined online introductory sessions with two days of in-person workshops in Helsinki, allowing participants to engage in hands-on exercises, peer exchange and collective reflection on current challenges and opportunities in safeguarding practice 

The training was delivered by a team of UNESCO-trained facilitators and experts, in close cooperation with Belgian and Finnish partners. The facilitation team included team members from UNESCO accredited NGOs Workshop Intangible Heritage and the Finnish Folk Music Institute,  the Finnish Heritage Agency and FLAME, reflecting the collaborative and multi-actor approach promoted by the 2003 Convention.

FLAME helped make this training possible. It served as a pilot for future multi-stakeholder training programs in Europe and beyond.This capacity-building initiative illustrates FLAME’s engagement in supporting learning, exchange and professional development at the regional level, while contributing to UNESCO’s global capacity-building strategy. It also highlights the role of European cooperation in strengthening safeguarding practices, fostering networks among practitioners, and reinforcing inclusive, community-centred approaches to living heritage.