I started working as an Activity Supervisor in Intercultural Center in Runosmäki back in February and the virus has been present every day. Bells in the door ring less and less. Different groups that used to meet in Runosmäki don´t have their meetings and weeks don´t have the same rythm than in the time without Covid. Fortunately we can still do something.

Activity Supervisors and other staff members have been creative. In this case being creative often means making videos on different subjects. We have made videos on cooking, crafts, stories etc. The oriental dance group has moved to online and the music group sends greetings via video. We would be very happy to hear your ideas too. What kind of videos you would like to see on our Facebook page?

Despite all of this summer is coming. I really do hope that the restrictions loosen up a bit and we will be able to go on trips and outings together with all of you in summer. We´ll keep an close eye on the instructions given by the authorities and we´ll let you know when it´s safe to gather together. We have made many plans for the future, so keep your eyes and ears open. News about future activies are coming!

Our door has been kept open and every once in a while somebody comes in. Individual visitors learn English or Spanish with their teachers or practise mindfullness. Someone asks for a piece of advice on a practical problem, somebody else comes to make a donation or just for a coffee and a chat. It has been really nice. Come and visit us also in the future when you happen to walk by, we are here for you.

I wish all of you lots of sunny spring days!

Pauliina Activity Supervisor, Runosmäki Intercultural Center

Hey! My name is Alireza. I´m Iranian and a sociable person.=D

At the moment I´m doing my internship at the Together Association. I think it´s nice to work here because you can be helpfull to  people who need help. I study at ???

My job at the Together Association is that I sometimes teach the staff members how to use Photoshop and if a visitor or a staff member has a problem with computers, Microsoft etc. then I will solve the problem. 

Nico and I started the Junior Club. The amount of participants bacame stable little by little and the kids in the neighbourhood got to know the club. These days we have 10 to 15 kids every week, it´s been nice to do stuff and plan the big picture.

The Information Day has brought a lot of new things to learn and a feeling that I have really been helpfull to people both in every day things and in more complicated cases. I can also remember that not everything goes according to plan every time. When I was helping this one lady with her studies, in came an older Somali woman. She sat down next to a closed computer and looked at me. I smiled and looked back at her.

The Somali lady said KAUNIS (beautiful) and I stood there wondering what is beautiful. The lady looks at me again and again: KAUNIS. I smile and nod at her like a dumb person. The lady looks at me again, she looks a little fustrated this time, and says KAUNIS! I look at her a little fustrated and think WHAT CAN BE SO FRIGGING BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THIS! When the lady once again says KAUNIS, the light finally comes on in my head and I undertand that she wants me to turn on the computer. NOT KAUNIS (beautiful), BUT COULD I KÄYNNISTÄÄ (turn on) THE COMPUTER 😀

I have enjoyed myself here and learned a lot. I can´t even describe how great the community of colleagues is here. Everybody works together and wants to take the association further. The fact that I have found the godfather and godmother of my soon to be born child here tells a lot about how much I like the place and how near and dear my colleaques have become to me.

Juho

The official opening and starting of the croup activities had to be postponed due to Covid-19 but the association put together activities for local residents. Collect the Letter-contest was particularly popular. In the contest people came daily to the door of the Intercultural Center and and collected letters posted on the window to form a sentence. When it was safe to gather outdoors again we started cultivating vegetables in cultivation boxes and took nature walks together. We also put together a group for outdoor activities.

In June we were able to arrange small-scale group activities once a week. New volunteers joined the association and we made many plans for the future. We also went on outings near Runosmäki both with visitors from the new Intercultural Center and together with Varissuo Center. We put together the Summer Cafe when ever possible and got to know the resindents of Runosmäki.

After the summer holidays in August we went on more outings. Many people came along to the island of Seili, Naantali and the old cemetery of Turku. In the end of August we started the group activities for the autumn 2020. Door to the Center was kept open every week day. In autumn 2020 there were 10 different groups in Runosmäki. Friday became the Info Day just like in Varissuo Center.

The Intercultural Center in Runosmäki was finally officially opened on August 28th. 82 people attended the opening festivities. What a success!

During its first year the Intercultural Center in Runosmäki has collaborated with the Henrikki congregation, the Runosmäki Association and different authorities of the city of Turku, among others. Different immigrant associations may gather in the Runosmäki Center free of charge. In the future we hope to be able to work together with these associations as well.

The start of Runosmäki Center could not have been more difficult but now when a new spring has arrived, we can hope that an active summer will be followed by an active autumn.

https://www.facebook.com/events/801145114139560

The panelists are Berhan Ben Ahmadi (Social Democrats), Bilal Ates (Centre Party), Janne Välilä (Finns Party), Muhis Azizi (National Coalition), Paco Diop (Left Alliance), Solli Norro (Christian Democrats), and Ulises Marquez (Greens). Immigration specialist Vilppu Palmberg of ETNO will be hosting the event.

https://www.facebook.com/events/801145114139560

Paneelissa esiintyvät kuntavaaliehdokkaat Berhan Ben Ahmadi (SDP), Bilal Ates (Kesk.), Janne Välilä (PS), Muhis Azizi (Kok.), Paco Diop (Vas.), Solli Norro (KD) ja Ulises Marquez (Vihr.). Sen juontaa maahanmuuttoasiantuntija Vilppu Palmberg.