FINLAND – CIVIC ORIENTATION TEXTBOOK Contents Foreword ........................................................................................................................................................................ 3 1. FINLAND AND THE FINNISH CULTURE ............................................................................................. 4 Geography and Climate of Finland ................................................................................................................................. 4 Population of Finland ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 What are Finns Like? ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 Outline of the History of Finland.................................................................................................................................... 9 Finnish Culture: Calendar, Celebrations and Traditions ............................................................................................... 16 Discussion Questions .................................................................................................................................................... 23 2. FINNISH SOCIETY .................................................................................................................................. 24 Sections of Finnish Society .......................................................................................................................................... 24 Development of the Welfare State in Finland .............................................................................................................. 25 Administrative System of Finland ................................................................................................................................ 29 Finnish Business and Economic System ...................................................................................................................... 32 Discussion Questions .................................................................................................................................................... 33 3. MOVING TO FINLAND AND LIVING IN FINLAND ......................................................................... 34 Residence Permits and Finnish Citizenship .................................................................................................................. 34 Practical Matters when Moving to Finland................................................................................................................... 36 Basics of Living ............................................................................................................................................................ 39 Integration into Your New Home Country ................................................................................................................... 45 Discussion Questions .................................................................................................................................................... 47 4. FAMILY LIFE AND CHILDREN ........................................................................................................... 48 The Finnish Family Then and Now .............................................................................................................................. 48 Marriage and Common-law Relationship ..................................................................................................................... 51 Many Kinds of Families ............................................................................................................................................... 55 Child Care and Services for Families with Children .................................................................................................... 56 Support for Families with Problems ............................................................................................................................. 61 Other Health and Social Services ................................................................................................................................. 63 When a Family Moves to Finland ................................................................................................................................ 66 Discussion Questions .................................................................................................................................................... 66 5. EDUCATION ............................................................................................................................................. 67 Development of the Finnish Education System ............................................................................................................ 67 The Finnish Education System Today .......................................................................................................................... 69 Financing Your Studies ................................................................................................................................................ 80 Discussion Questions .................................................................................................................................................... 81 6. WORK AND SUBSISTENCE IN FINLAND .......................................................................................... 82 Labour Market .............................................................................................................................................................. 82 Employment ................................................................................................................................................................. 92 Salary and Taxation ...................................................................................................................................................... 98 If You Become Unemployed ........................................................................................................................................ 99 Entrepreneurship and Self-employment ..................................................................................................................... 102 Discussion Questions .................................................................................................................................................. 104 © Suomen Pakolaisapu ry – Finnish Refugee Council 1 7. HEALTH AND AGEING IN FINLAND ............................................................................................... 105 Health and Illness ....................................................................................................................................................... 105 Health Services in Finland .......................................................................................................................................... 107 Health and Well-being of the Elderly ......................................................................................................................... 110 Types of Pensions ....................................................................................................................................................... 111 Care Services for the Elderly ...................................................................................................................................... 112 Death and Burial ......................................................................................................................................................... 114 Inheritance .................................................................................................................................................................. 116 Discussion Questions .................................................................................................................................................. 117 8. LAWS AND JUSTICE IN FINLAND .................................................................................................... 118 Legal System of Finland ............................................................................................................................................. 118 Equal and Equitable Society ....................................................................................................................................... 120 Rights and Obligations of Individuals ........................................................................................................................ 123 Crimes ........................................................................................................................................................................ 125 Legal Proceedings and Legal Aid ............................................................................................................................... 127 Discussion Questions .................................................................................................................................................. 129 9. POLITICS AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION IN FINLAND................................................................. 130 What is Democracy? ..................................................................................................................................................