Amanda Cajander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amanda Cajander
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|---|---|
| Born |
Mathilda Fredrika Nygren
10 January 1827 |
| Died | 23 February 1871 (aged 44) |
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Occupation | Nurse, deaconess |
| Spouse(s) | Anders Cajander |
Mathilda Fredrika "Amanda" Cajander (born January 10, 1827 – died February 23, 1871) was a very important Finnish woman. She was a deaconess and helped start modern medical care in Finland. She dedicated her life to helping people in need.
Contents
Her Life Story
Early Life and Challenges
Amanda Cajander was born Mathilda Fredrika Nygren. In 1848, she married a doctor named Anders Cajander. They had two children together.
Sadly, when she was 29 years old, her husband passed away. Her children also died around this time. After these very difficult losses, Amanda decided to dedicate her life to helping others.
Becoming a Deaconess
Amanda moved to Saint Petersburg to train as a deaconess. A deaconess is a woman who works for the church, helping people who are sick or in need. They often work as nurses or social workers.
A rich Finnish helper named Aurora Karamzina knew about the training institute. She wanted to open a similar place in Helsinki, Finland. Aurora invited Amanda Cajander to be the first leader of this new institute.
Helping Others in Helsinki
The new institute opened in December 1867. This was during a very difficult time in Finland, known as the Great Famine (1866–1868). Many people were suffering from hunger and sickness.
At first, the institute was small. It had a hospital with eight beds, an orphanage for children without parents, and a place for people who needed shelter. Its main goal was to help women and children and to care for the sick.
In 1869, Amanda Cajander also started a children's home in Helsinki. This provided a safe place for many young people. She is buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki.
Her Lasting Impact
Amanda Cajander and Aurora Karamzina are seen as the first Christian helpers in Finland. They showed that women could have an important job working for the church and helping their communities.
The first deaconess trained entirely in Finland was Cecilia Blomqvist. Later, in the 1880s, Anna Broms started nursing courses for women. This helped create the nursing profession we know today. Amanda Cajander's work helped pave the way for these important changes in Finnish healthcare.
