Towards the best integration in Finland
Integration Services in Porvoo work closely with Porvoo Adult Education Centre and other actors.
“We want to provide the best integration in Finland,” says Jenny Broberg, Head of Integration Services in Porvoo.
Our multinational team of eight helps immigrants not only in education and employment, but also in matters related to housing, forms and applications, leisure and hobbies.
Many Factors of Success
One of the partners in integration services is Porvoo Adult Education Centre or KoMBi, which has long organised Finnish language courses, for immigrants in particular.
Recently, the City of Porvoo decided that moving forward, the Adult Education Centre will provide integration training for immigrants, which consist of learning the Finnish language and getting to know Finnish society, working life and job search.
According to Mika Pohjanen, Deputy Principal of the Adult Education Centre, immigrants are at best a very active group and eager to learn.
“One person attended our Finnish language course an hour after landing at Helsinki Airport.”
Adil Bailo, 27, who arrived in Porvoo two years ago as a refugee, has benefitted much of the help provided by the Integration Centre.
“I have gotten help with both study and housing matters and in filling out forms,” he says.
In two years, Bailo has learned to speak fluent Finnish and completed the syllabus of Finnish comprehensive education. This autumn, he began his studies in and upper secondary school for adults. He is currently looking for a job alongside studying.
“I like studying a lot. Of course I am Sudanese, but right now my home is in Porvoo. It’s good and safe here.”
Picture Samuli Skantsi
