My name is Sarah Frechette. I’m an American, who has lived in Helsinki for three years, and I’ve seen, experienced, and studied a lot of what it means to be a “foreigner” in Finland. After witnessing and experiencing so much frustration, I have discussed starting an NGO in Helsinki that would be dedicated to immigrants living in the capital area. It would focus on helping immigrants make Helsinki home.
The centre will be called the Centre for Inclusion (CFI). We will have a three pronged approach: education, research, and lobbying. CFI will be different from other organizations in the city for a number of reasons:
• First, it will be run by foreigners. While we will encourage the participation and input from Finns, the leadership will be a collection of immigrants. It is hoped this will make the Centre more accessible and open to the needs of various immigrant communities.
• Secondly, it will be a Centre without a centre. Because accessibility is one of our primary aims, we will use a variety of buildings throughout the city where we can host our classes and other events. It is hoped that the Centre will be able to accommodate different communities more easily.
• Thirdly, although we acknowledge the importance of working with asylum seekers and their particular needs, we will not only attempt to draw in asylum seekers. Many non-native Finns have their own difficulties in finding a sense of belonging, and we will try to reach out and include all those that are feeling excluded.
We are hosting our first meeting to discuss further aims of the Centre, and we’d like to have your input! As a member of the community, we’re sure your perspective would be invaluable in helping us form a foundation on which the Centre can really flourish.
Our first meeting will be held at
Mikael Agricola Kirkko, 23 A Tehtaankatu, Helsinki, 00140
18:00
Monday, March 26
We will serve coffee, tea, and light refreshments. Feel free to pass along this invite to anyone you think might be interested.
Center for Inclusion first meeting!!!
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sarahhonkkila
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:31 pm
- Location: vantaa
Not wishing to be critical of your efforts here, but don't such organisations already exist?
Not that I have used it, but I know of it's existence... out here in the sticks there is "Satakunnan monikulttuuriyhdistys - The Multicultural Association of Satakunta" http://www.monikulttuuripori.com/
In Helsinki - Google shows there is already "Monikulttuuriyhdistys Familia Club ry" http://www.familiaclub.fi/eng/index.htm which, from a 3 second scan of their pages, it appears to me that they aim to do pretty much what you are hoping to do.
Not that I have used it, but I know of it's existence... out here in the sticks there is "Satakunnan monikulttuuriyhdistys - The Multicultural Association of Satakunta" http://www.monikulttuuripori.com/
In Helsinki - Google shows there is already "Monikulttuuriyhdistys Familia Club ry" http://www.familiaclub.fi/eng/index.htm which, from a 3 second scan of their pages, it appears to me that they aim to do pretty much what you are hoping to do.
and sinikala: your point is?
So there is yet another organization being formed for inclusion..
My input is: if you are already forming newly, at least try to be the "coordinating organization" of all others instead of having the same charter...
Other question is: how big is your organization? how many members?
what is the diversity of your org? Are you going to be an official NGO or an ky?
how do you plan to do the things in your charter? Any initial ideas or re you asking us input?
What about inclusion of people living in the docks? How do you plan to contact them and make them participate? err wrong question.
its only for people in the capital area..OK. so I dont count. 
Do you have any idea of how many foreigners and those other people that feel this way in the capital area?
How do you plan to reach those communities ( like JW ways or ?)
and how many of those communities have you identified?
How do you plan to lobby and who do you lobby to and what do you lobby for?
What do you plan to teach those frustrated and left-out souls in the communities inside the capital area? like what kind of classes than the ones that the ministry already provides?
do you have membership fees or dues? how do you plan to sponsor for the above things if you dont have those or what about funding? who gives it?
Do you have a website?
More input will come once the capital area includes my community
So there is yet another organization being formed for inclusion..
My input is: if you are already forming newly, at least try to be the "coordinating organization" of all others instead of having the same charter...
Other question is: how big is your organization? how many members?
what is the diversity of your org? Are you going to be an official NGO or an ky?
how do you plan to do the things in your charter? Any initial ideas or re you asking us input?
What about inclusion of people living in the docks? How do you plan to contact them and make them participate? err wrong question.
its only for people in the capital area..OK. so I dont count. Do you have any idea of how many foreigners and those other people that feel this way in the capital area?
How do you plan to reach those communities ( like JW ways or ?)
and how many of those communities have you identified?
How do you plan to lobby and who do you lobby to and what do you lobby for?
What do you plan to teach those frustrated and left-out souls in the communities inside the capital area? like what kind of classes than the ones that the ministry already provides?
do you have membership fees or dues? how do you plan to sponsor for the above things if you dont have those or what about funding? who gives it?
Do you have a website?
More input will come once the capital area includes my community
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sarahhonkkila
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:31 pm
- Location: vantaa
i'm actually really stoked that people are responding to this post. i was actually afraid that it would go unnoticed, so i'm really happy that people care enough to respond.
yes, you're right, similar organizations exist, but this one is fundamentally different because of the pressure group and research aspect. our aim is not just to operate within the status quo but fundamentally change the way that immigration policy and multiculturalism in finland (starting with helsinki) is addressed. additionally, we will be completely mobile. people will not have to come to us: we will go to them.
our current research projects will look at the way in which city planning ignores other cultures and the way in which current immigration policy results in social exclusion.
we will also be actively lobbying to get city planners to put aside space for a mosque in new urban spaces.
i certainly think it's necessary.
as for the list of questions offered, her are a few answers:
-we have no idea how many members we're going to have. we haven't even written the charter, because we want as much input as possible before we get going. that's part of the purpose of the first meeting.
-we have no website yet, again, this all in the planning stages, but we will, we will!!
-there will be no membership dues. that's prohibitive. although, classes might have a nominal fee (and this is more to make sure that people actually turn up, because i've taught free classes and no one came. once we said 20 euros for 6 weeks of intensive courses, people were there the whole time)
-i think that, at first, we'll start with english classes and finnish (if we can find a teacher that will agree to volunteer) and then we'll go on from there. i would love to get someone to volunteer to teach a photography class or something of the sort, which i would actually really like to take and then it could end with some sort of show. again, i've got lots of ideas floating around in my head, but i need to get the basics of the organization set up first before we can really go off from there.
-as to the point about how many people feel the need to be included- well, i would guess that the majority of non-native finns don't quite "fit" even if they've lived in finland for most of their lives.
-and the comment about the ex-pat club is totally valid. i DO NOT want it to be another association devoid of finns. i've written to organizations in the finnish community and invited them to this meeting in hopes that they would want to participate in some way. again, the photography class sounds so cool (at least to me) that perhaps it'll draw a 50-50 crowd?
in conclusion, this organization is necessary and valid, of that i'm sure. we haven't worked out the finer details on purpose, because we want other people to have a chance to give their two cents before committing anything to a website or contract.
yes, you're right, similar organizations exist, but this one is fundamentally different because of the pressure group and research aspect. our aim is not just to operate within the status quo but fundamentally change the way that immigration policy and multiculturalism in finland (starting with helsinki) is addressed. additionally, we will be completely mobile. people will not have to come to us: we will go to them.
our current research projects will look at the way in which city planning ignores other cultures and the way in which current immigration policy results in social exclusion.
we will also be actively lobbying to get city planners to put aside space for a mosque in new urban spaces.
i certainly think it's necessary.
as for the list of questions offered, her are a few answers:
-we have no idea how many members we're going to have. we haven't even written the charter, because we want as much input as possible before we get going. that's part of the purpose of the first meeting.
-we have no website yet, again, this all in the planning stages, but we will, we will!!
-there will be no membership dues. that's prohibitive. although, classes might have a nominal fee (and this is more to make sure that people actually turn up, because i've taught free classes and no one came. once we said 20 euros for 6 weeks of intensive courses, people were there the whole time)
-i think that, at first, we'll start with english classes and finnish (if we can find a teacher that will agree to volunteer) and then we'll go on from there. i would love to get someone to volunteer to teach a photography class or something of the sort, which i would actually really like to take and then it could end with some sort of show. again, i've got lots of ideas floating around in my head, but i need to get the basics of the organization set up first before we can really go off from there.
-as to the point about how many people feel the need to be included- well, i would guess that the majority of non-native finns don't quite "fit" even if they've lived in finland for most of their lives.
-and the comment about the ex-pat club is totally valid. i DO NOT want it to be another association devoid of finns. i've written to organizations in the finnish community and invited them to this meeting in hopes that they would want to participate in some way. again, the photography class sounds so cool (at least to me) that perhaps it'll draw a 50-50 crowd?
in conclusion, this organization is necessary and valid, of that i'm sure. we haven't worked out the finer details on purpose, because we want other people to have a chance to give their two cents before committing anything to a website or contract.
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Hank W.
- The Motorhead
- Posts: 29973
- Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2002 10:00 pm
- Location: Mushroom Mountain
- Contact:
Yeah, the city planning ignores cultures. We need a peanut butter factory and a curry leaf greenhouse.
Please define "handling multiculturalism". Does this by any chance have got to do with redistribution of common funds?
On the mosque, I've wondered why there hasn't been built a proper one. In case you haven't noticed, there was a new orthodox church built in Vantaa this year. And it is not the Finnish Orthodox church, but one under the patriarch of Moscow. And there was a new Mormon temple as well. So I don't think there is any problem to build a mosque as long as someone coughs up the money for it. Finding a lot might be problematic - but maybe either one of the burned church sites in Vantaa would do?
Please define "handling multiculturalism". Does this by any chance have got to do with redistribution of common funds?
On the mosque, I've wondered why there hasn't been built a proper one. In case you haven't noticed, there was a new orthodox church built in Vantaa this year. And it is not the Finnish Orthodox church, but one under the patriarch of Moscow. And there was a new Mormon temple as well. So I don't think there is any problem to build a mosque as long as someone coughs up the money for it. Finding a lot might be problematic - but maybe either one of the burned church sites in Vantaa would do?
Cheers, Hank W.
sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.
sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.
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littlefrank
- Posts: 3584
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2004 11:51 am
- Location: eläkeläinenmäki
hmm I am in the business of making people think about business...
apart from them being creative, imaginative, etc etc..
But you.. You think that there is a need and wanna start something to address that need without ever wanting to think about What the hell you are doing..what is your purpose..what is needed, what is the real problem and issue to address, what is your goal etc.
How the h eck can you really do something that other organizations that have thought through this achieve ? Wouldnt it be better to join them and help them find their goal instead of saying that I am gonna create this and Oh people follow me..
If you do your search properly, and if you Really really wanna help, perhaps, contact as Enk says, Caisa and see if they could use your help..
apart from them being creative, imaginative, etc etc..
But you.. You think that there is a need and wanna start something to address that need without ever wanting to think about What the hell you are doing..what is your purpose..what is needed, what is the real problem and issue to address, what is your goal etc.
How the h eck can you really do something that other organizations that have thought through this achieve ? Wouldnt it be better to join them and help them find their goal instead of saying that I am gonna create this and Oh people follow me..
If you do your search properly, and if you Really really wanna help, perhaps, contact as Enk says, Caisa and see if they could use your help..
And - just my 2 cents worth - holding your first meeting in a Protestant church (in one of the most expensive districts of town) doesn't sound like a cool move if you are hoping to attract a lot of immigrants. I would be VERY wary of going to any kind of meeting held in a church even if it were Herbalife or Tupperware.
And I totally agree with enk about including Finns. A "Centre for Inclusion" run by foreigners sounds a bit weird at first glance. The activity clubs are a good idea: learning Finnish (or any other language) through "content" (it's call CLIL) is a great way of including foreigners and many municipalities already have various courses running which aim to do this (eg through cookery, handicrafts etc). There is an association in Lauttasaari that runs a weekly arts and crafts club for immigrant women, Espoo city runs similar courses and clubs and I have read articles in 6 degrees (which BTW also has an active lobbying role) about clubs and associations in other parts of the country.
So you are not breaking new ground, but good luck anyway.
And I totally agree with enk about including Finns. A "Centre for Inclusion" run by foreigners sounds a bit weird at first glance. The activity clubs are a good idea: learning Finnish (or any other language) through "content" (it's call CLIL) is a great way of including foreigners and many municipalities already have various courses running which aim to do this (eg through cookery, handicrafts etc). There is an association in Lauttasaari that runs a weekly arts and crafts club for immigrant women, Espoo city runs similar courses and clubs and I have read articles in 6 degrees (which BTW also has an active lobbying role) about clubs and associations in other parts of the country.
So you are not breaking new ground, but good luck anyway.
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Hank W.
- The Motorhead
- Posts: 29973
- Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2002 10:00 pm
- Location: Mushroom Mountain
- Contact:
Now funding and membership are two key issues. If an organization wishes to be independet it must have independent funding. Even webspace does cost. And being a registered association one can book a room and it is booked by the organization; not by the individual. Also a registered organization can raise funds, which an individual person can not. As far as getting registered - The International English Speakers' Association managed to get themselves a charter after three rounds with the Patent Office... yeah, piece of cake the Patent Office.
Now the membership of course needs to be there to run things; but how many people do have the time and energy to participate; especially if there is no funding and personal liability. Once the original zeal dies, you can see if the organization is viable or not - running it as a one person show never works. And the people who join in with lots of time usually loose interest after they get a real job. If an organization is run as a side interest - as it has to as very few can afford to pay any staff - then you need to take into consideration people having a life.
Won't have much pressure as a pressure group if you don't have a group to pressurize with
Now the membership of course needs to be there to run things; but how many people do have the time and energy to participate; especially if there is no funding and personal liability. Once the original zeal dies, you can see if the organization is viable or not - running it as a one person show never works. And the people who join in with lots of time usually loose interest after they get a real job. If an organization is run as a side interest - as it has to as very few can afford to pay any staff - then you need to take into consideration people having a life.
Won't have much pressure as a pressure group if you don't have a group to pressurize with
Cheers, Hank W.
sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.
sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.
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sarahhonkkila
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:31 pm
- Location: vantaa
the centre for inclusion will be different from caisa because of the mobility (which is especially important in our outreach to refugee reception centres), research, and lobbying aspects. i appreciate that other organizations offer classes, and i hope that CFI could work with existing organizations to support classwork. but i don't think that things should stop there.
as for mikael agricola church as our first meeting place- 50 immigrants meet there every sunday morning, and we come from all sorts of backgrounds.
this is not an individual effort, i assure you. at the moment, we have four people that are most certainly on board as much as i am.
i also appreciate that all the kinks aren't worked out, and they won't be immediately. i have confidence that funding and volunteers will come once things get off the ground, and we prove we are quite serious and dedicated to the cause. basically, we've got to start somewhere.
i encourage all of you to come on monday the 26th and discuss all these points in person. i hope to see at least some of you there.
as for mikael agricola church as our first meeting place- 50 immigrants meet there every sunday morning, and we come from all sorts of backgrounds.
this is not an individual effort, i assure you. at the moment, we have four people that are most certainly on board as much as i am.
i also appreciate that all the kinks aren't worked out, and they won't be immediately. i have confidence that funding and volunteers will come once things get off the ground, and we prove we are quite serious and dedicated to the cause. basically, we've got to start somewhere.
i encourage all of you to come on monday the 26th and discuss all these points in person. i hope to see at least some of you there.
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Jason Wright
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2003 12:20 pm
- Location: Kartanonkoski - VANTAA
- Contact:
raamv, your tone nor comments are not very encouraging...actually critical. Why do you find it necessary to attack Sarah's sincere initiative to find likeminded people who want to influence their life here in Finland?raamv wrote:hmm I am in the business of making people think about business...
apart from them being creative, imaginative, etc etc..
But you.. You think that there is a need and wanna start something to address that need without ever wanting to think about What the hell you are doing..what is your purpose..what is needed, what is the real problem and issue to address, what is your goal etc.
How the heck can you really do something that other organizations that have thought through this achieve ? Wouldnt it be better to join them and help them find their goal instead of saying that I am gonna create this and Oh people follow me..
If you do your search properly, and if you Really really wanna help, perhaps, contact as Enk says, Caisa and see if they could use your help..
What do you actually know about Caisa? Have you worked there? OR even organized events?
I have. My wife and I started 'Family Corner' at Caisa, which brought international families together to once a month. Did we 'change the world' with it? No. What we attempted to do was create a sense of 'inclusion' and community. Did it work? Yes, on a limited scale and there is still a network of international families that are friends. I consider it a success!
Caisa promotes diversity and multicultural education, but it does not lobby for the inclusion of foreigners into this society. And Caisa is a great resource for organizations that have a compatible mission and it offers valuable resources at low or no cost (meeting spaces, classes, experienced staff).
I applaud Sarah for her initiative to 'positively' influence society. I WILL support concept of a Center for Inclusion.
I am rather disappointed to see such pessimism on this thread. The world really needs MORE people who are willing to actually do something about important issues, rather than just complain.
By the way, I went to the meeting if you are wondering.
And there is a great core team that will take this forward. I understand that some people are uncomfortable in start-ups. But there first has to be an idea and enough people around it to give the momentum to make it a reality. If Sarah had not posted this message, I would not have known about her initiative. I have had similar ideas for a CFI, but I knew I could not do it alone.
I sincerely hope that foreigners that belong to this society; who are interested in proactively influencing it will follow CFI's progress. Perhaps you will even consider taking part to create this new organization!
All the best,
Jason
And Hank, your posts were 'constructive'. Thanks.
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littlefrank
- Posts: 3584
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2004 11:51 am
- Location: eläkeläinenmäki