Somali Finns

H e l s i n k i - i n f o Issue 2 – 2012 March 26 English Supplement Contents 2 From the Observatory to Kallio Church 3 Meri-Rastila school educates citizens of future Helsinki 5 Principal on a mission 6 Somali Finns awarded for community work 8 More than knitting 10 Design an art museum Katja Kankaanranta 10 Info kit Educating future citizens Page 3 Somali Finns seek their place in society Page 6 Rhinoceros Oy English Supplement From Observatory Hill to Kallio Church The so-called Union Line, stretch- At the opposite end, on top of ing across central Helsinki from Tähtitorninmäki, a new Observa- Tähtitorninmäki (Observatory Hill) tory, complete with a visitor cen- to Kallio Church, encompasses a tre, is due to open this autumn number of key events and institu- in an old building designed by tions from the city’s history. The C.L Engel. Unioninkatu is a Russian emperor Alexander I gateway to the city’s historic arrived in Helsinki in the year parks in Kaisaniemi and the PAGE 1819 along Pitkäsilta Bridge and Esplanadi thoroughfare. The old named the street Unioninkatu or market halls at the Market FRONT Union Street. He had declared Square and Hakaniemi Market Helsinki capital of Finland in 1812. are an ideal spot for some shop- Union Street is home not just ping or a cup of coffee. to Helsinki Cathedral but also During the bi-centenary jubilee the German Church and the Rus- year, Unioninkatu will turn into a sian Orthodox Holy Trinity street art gallery and the venue Church. A number of key admin- City of Helsinki Media Bank for a busy programme of events istrative buildings are based in bourgeois central Helsinki. The taking place at the Senate Helsinki’s neo-classical centre, Hakaniemi area is closely linked Square and on street corners. In home to state, university and city to the history of the workers’ autumn 2012, Unioninkatu will council institution. movement. Kallio Church, cur- be illuminated by the Blue Line The Pitkäsilta Bridge has tradi- rently celebrating its first cente- laser beam, connecting Observa- tionally linked a working class nary, cuts an imposing figure at tory Hill and the Kallio Church neighbourhood with the more the top of Siltasaarenmäki. tower. English Supplement Meri-Rastila school educates citizens of future Helsinki By Johanna Lemola PAGE The Meri-Rastila school in eastern Helsinki is at the core of the FRONT changing nature of increasingly international Helsinki. The school shows how to build harmony amidst diversity. In late February, an exhibition of the Chinese New Year meets the pupils, staff and visitors in the lobby of the Meri-Rastila comprehensive school for stages 1–6. As always, the walls are covered with drawings by pupils that reflect the cultural diversity of the school; the school has pupils from 15–20 different cultural backgrounds. Rhinoceros Oy English Supplement To a recent merry winter festiv- The schoolhouse is in the cen- ity traditionally celebrated with tre of a tight-knit community. buns in Finland, Somali mothers The children come from a radius brought sambosas – savory pas- of only 0.5 kilometres. Many tries typical of their culture. The have started their community life teachers were quick to grab the at the daycare centre located in sambosas rather than the buns. the same building, or at the “We all know how good the playground of the adjacent Har- sambosas are and really appreci- uspuisto Community Park. A ate them, says Principal Katja youth centre, also in the same Kankaanranta. building complex, is ready to The small anecdote about receive them as they grow older. appreciation of cultural diversity The overall impression is one of PAGE says a lot about the school. a cozy, understanding community. “Children are safe here and FRONT An oasis of harmony inside can lead lives of children,” the community Kankaanranta confirms. Contrary to some commonly-held If there are social problems in expectations, the realities of the the surrounding community, they Meri-Rastila school are not overly are not reflected in the school. challenged by multi-culturalism. “Some of the children eat pork, Language training others don’t, and many girls wear as part of entering scarves,” Kankaanranta says, Finnish society “but besides details like that, cul- The Meri-Rastila school has a tural diversity is not obvious in highlighted role in Helsinki’s any particular way. We run a nor- school community in readying mal Helsinki school here – and a foreign-born students to enter good school to that!” Finnish society. Rhinoceros English Supplement “Our particular task is to give our dren can have better Finnish lan- foreign-born pupils the skills they guage skills than their Finnish Principal on a mission need to cope in Finnish society,” peers!” Kankaanranta comments, “and the After stage 6, pupils move from When the principal’s position became open at the better these skills are, the better they Meri-Rastila to nearby schools in the Meri-Rastila school last year, Katja Kankaanranta will succeed. They should be proud of Vuosaari area. was quick to apply. She started in the position in these skills and proud of their roots at August 2011, moving on from the large Mikkola the same time, to be strong members Dedicated staff, appreciative school in Vantaa, where she had been deputy prin- of society.” parents cipal in charge of special needs education. Many of the children start school – Kankaanranta gives full credit to her “I was attracted to Meri-Rastila by diversity,” she and their path to become members of staff. “I’m deeply moved about the says. “The variety of cultural backgrounds, nation- Finnish society – in special-needs lan- dedication of my staff. Mobility is low, alities, languages and religions is of tremendous PAGE guage training. They study Finnish as which shows how committed to their value!” the second language in a one-year work and how rewarded they are.” The Meri-Rastila school allows her to live out a FRONT preparatory class. Further proof of the school’s success passion – to drive through appreciation of the “Children’s first language is the lan- comes from parents. “Parents are great value of diversity, and to fight fear of diver- guage of their culture and their emo- convinced that school is important, sity. tions, and we certainly don’t and they value and honor school. “All backgrounds are equally valuable,” she says. discourage them to use that language. Naturally issues arise, such as some “A child is born without prejudices. Prejudices But we try to encourage them to use related to religion, but parents come from the parents, the environment and the Finnish in many ways, such as mixing approach us very nicely with ques- media. Racism is fear and ignorance.” them with Finnish-speaking children tions.” “At our school, we turn diversity into safety,” she in social situations.” “I wish parents would approach us says, pointing out a bigger picture: “In this way, “Most children pick up Finnish even more!” our school has a larger role in society – as all quickly and are ready to study in Finn- Kankaanranta wants to keep doors schools should have.” ish after one year. After theoretical open to all positive and constructive “I would hope to promote the same understand- language training, foreign-born chil- communication. ing about diversity in society at large.” English Supplement Päivi Arvonen Päivi Somali Finns seek a more active role in society By Päivi Arvonen The Somali League of Finland was awarded last year the City of Helsinki, and he now the country. The League’s activi- for active community work in Herttoniemi. Chairman teaches at a workers’ institute. He ties have evolved and diversified of the League trusts that racism and prejudices can has written several IT guides in during Dirie’s term. Last Novem- PAGE be dissolved with open communication. Somali. Chairing the Somali ber, the suburban society Helka League is an important voluntary ry awarded the League with FRONT activity for him. their “Vuoden teko” annual “Finland belongs to us all,” says Dirie moved to Finland two dec- achievement prize in recognition Abdirashid Awad Dirie, Chair- ades ago and knows what he Cultural club, sewing group of active efforts in the suburb of man of the Somali League of talks about. He graduated with a and open doors Herttoniemi. Finland. Master’s degree in Economics The Somali League of Finland The League’s headquarters on He makes other powerful state- from the University of Vaasa in (Suomen somaliliitto ry), founded Susitie in Herttoniemi are a ments: “Finnish citizens of Somali 2007. He has worked as an IT in 1996, is the umbrella organi- multi-cultural meeting place. On origin want to be part of devel- trainer and a work planner with zation for all Somali groups in the last Thursday of every month oping Finnish society the facilities host a cultural club, Somali housewives want to where native and foreign-born educate themselves and pay Helsinki residents meet around taxes. Somali Finns are good for various themes. The League has many other jobs than bus and hosted a women’s sewing group taxi drivers.” “We need air time!” since last spring. English Supplement “We are planning to run a café on many levels. The Somali here, but we already hold our League of Finland receives doors open and welcome people financing from the Ministry of to come to chat and meet peo- Education and Culture and from ple,” Diries says. “By talking we the Migration division of the dissolve prejudices.” Ministry of the Interior. Addi- tional funding for projects comes Support from the commu- from Finland’s Slot Machine nity is of key importance Association (RAY).

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