Foster father who welcomed more than 30 children to receive presidential medal

Tero Mononen, a foster father from the municipality of Sipoo, will receive a state decoration from the president at Finland’s national Father’s Day celebration on November 8, Yle reports.

Mononen and his wife have provided a home to more than 30 children placed in foster care since the 1990s. Seven lived with the couple long-term, while others stayed for shorter periods. The family also includes three biological children.

Mononen is one of 26 fathers who will receive the First Class Medal of the Order of the White Rose of Finland with Gold Cross. This year’s awards recognise, among other things, fathers’ active contributions to village communities and organisations.

The award moved Mononen, who said the recognition also belonged to his wife, who has been closely involved in foster care. He described the work as important and said the honour brought back memories of the years spent with the children.

Mononen said the most meaningful moments of fatherhood come in everyday life, when children are doing well, making friends or finding that school is going smoothly. He said he could not discuss the children’s backgrounds in detail because he needed to protect their privacy.