Finland

Afous-Afous ry

National Network
Finland
Address

Tanssijantie 21
01390 Vantaa
Finland

Telephone
+358451138127
E-Mail
afousafous@gmail.com
Website
http://afousafous.org
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2008
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
  2. Democracy and community development
  3. Environment/Sustainable development
  4. Heritage
  5. Human rights
  6. International/Cultural relations
  7. Youth and education
General Information
The association Afous-Afous works with the Tuareg of the Sahara and Sahel, introducing the culture, history and way of life. The Tuareg belong to the North African indigenous population, Amazigh (Berbers), originally leading a nomadic lifestyle stretching across many state borders. Majority of the Tuareg live in Niger, Mali and Algeria, smaller groups also in Libya, Mauritania and Burkina Faso.
Mission and Objectives

We aim to be an informative channel in Finland of the Tuareg, as well as on the current situation of the Tuareg areas. We wish to promote human rights and equality in the multi-ethnic communities in Sahara and Sahel and work in projects that preserve the culture, living areas and quality of life of the Tuareg. Our aim is also to be an intermediate between the Tuareg and Europe.

Main Projects / Activities

Afous-Afous has participated in several cultural and educational projects in the Sahel area. In Finland we inform about the Tuareg by organizing cultural events and seminars, and by producing informative materials. We are also giving a platform in Finland for the Tuareg to speak about themselves by inviting cultural, political and intellectual members of the Tuareg community to Finland. We work in a tight co-operation with associations both in Sahara and Sahel, as well as in Europe. We are also maintaining tight relations to the academic world in Finland.

How can you contribute to the Network in your country?

We can bring the expertise of the Tuareg, Amazigh and North-Africa, Sahara and Sahel regions as well as work together with other associations in the network.

Contact (1) Full Name
Hanna Yikona
Job Title
Chairperson
Head of the organisation
Hanna Yikona
Contact (2) Full Name
Satu Riikonen
Job Title (2)
Vice chair

African Care

National Network
Finland
Address

PL 54
00101 Helsinki
Finland

Telephone
+358 400 671 288
E-Mail
info@africancare.fi
E-Mail (2)
batulo@gmail.com
E-Mail (3)
jenna-maria.soikkeli@africancare.fi
E-Mail (4)
anni.kinnunen@africancare.fi
Website
http://www.africancare.fi/
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2001
Fields of Activity
  1. Democracy and community development
  2. Gender
  3. Human rights
General Information

African Care ry is a non-governmental organization operating from Helsinki, Finland. It was founded in 2001 by African women, working as health and social workers in the capital region. In Finland African Care aims to strengthen the societal position of immigrant women and their families. Currently the focus is on supporting health and wellbeing. African Care also organizes and facilitates trainings and seminars for Finnish authorities and health service students/professionals in the capital region on multiculturalism, female genital mutilation and honor violence. In Finland African Care also organises a global education project for upper secondary school students on the impact of global power structures on women’s lives in the developing world. Finally, African Care coordinates, with the support of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, a maternity clinic and training project in Somalia.

Mission and Objectives

African Care’s goal is to promote human rights and gender equality and to empower disadvantaged women in Finland, as well as in the Global South.

Main Projects / Activities

African Care’s main project in Finland are women’s wellness groups. They provide a space for immigrant women to discuss, learn and share knowledge on different health related topics. African Care also provides a private swimming session for women. Furthermore, African Care organises global education, and in 2017-2018 the course is called ”Uncovering power structures – the impact of global power structures on women’s lives in the developing world”. In Somalia, African Care coordinates a Maternity Clinic and Training Project. The project begun in 2012 and is based in Afgooye, located about 30 km from the capital Mogadishu, where African Care works together with a local NGO. The clinic employs 20 healthcare professionals. The activities of the maternity clinic consist of assisting mothers in deliveries, helping and treating victims of rape and sexual violence, HIV testing along with consulting and raising awareness. The clinic treats approximately 1500 patients and assists in over 100 deliveries monthly.

Contact (1) Full Name
Batulo Essak
Job Title
Executive Director
Head of the organisation
Batulo Essak

ALFinMotion Mobility Program - Journey to Cairo and Alexandria

Submitted by Finland on Wed, 31/01/2024 - 11:50
Four women standing in a row, they are smiling

Heidi Rautionmaa (second from the left), who represents the RfP Women of Faith Network in Finland and URI in Finland, embarked on a journey to Cairo and Alexandria as part of the ALFinMotion Mobility program. Here she shares her experiences from the trip.

This mobility gave possibility to get to know Egypt's wide and varied culture and how it is seen in today ́s diverse society. The journey to Cairo and Alexandria included meetings with colleagues that promote a more just and peaceful society. One of the goals of these encounters was to share ways of helping victims of violence to get empowered and to get out from violent situations. As an interfaith expert, it is always rewarding to see how stories connect individuals to others who share their experiences and generate the ability for individuals and organizations to act. Through telling our local work internationally, we learn to see the interconnectedness and our responsibilities on a global scale. We noticed how we have commonalities in preventing GBV and how we have a lot to learn from each other in overcoming this matter.

The host organization Life Foundation for Development and community integration took care of the extensive program, that also consisted of visits to museums, historical and religious sites, and homes of local people, which is always the best part of traveling. The ALFinMotion is a program of experimental learning. Experience is indeed the source of learning and development.

 

Writer: Heidi Rautionmaa, RfP Women of Faith Network in Finland and URI in Finland. 

Amal ry

National Network
Finland
Address

Ruutikuja 5
00940 Helsinki
Finland

Telephone
0408753060
Telephone (other)
0503604607
E-Mail
puheenjohtaja@amalry.fi
E-Mail (2)
info@amalry.fi
E-Mail (3)
pia.aiyad@amalry.fi
E-Mail (4)
sihteeri@amalry.fi
Mobile Phone
0408753060
Mobile Phone (other)
0408753060
Website
http://www.amalry.fi
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2017
Fields of Activity
  1. Gender
General Information
Amal ry is a social sector organization, whose purpose is to support and promote girls’ and womens wellbeing according to islamic values. Behind the organization are muslim women from different professions, from whose shared dream the organization was founded. The organization was founded based on the need of activities and services, in which religion and spirituality are considered a part of a person’s overall wellbeing. Amal ry makes use of the empowering effect of religion to increase and strengthen the involvement of girls and women in their own communities and in the society at large. The organization’s aim is to help girls and women to find suitable support services in different problem situations, to develop the support services offered to girls and women, and to influence the attitudes towards muslim women in the society.  
Mission and Objectives

Amal ry’s mission is to empower women and girls, to strengthen communality and sisterhood, and to be a trustworthy professional source in special issues related to muslim women. We want to give the feeling of safety and to create hope.
 

Main Projects / Activities

Our purpose is to better the prerequisites of girls and women to act on different levels of the society. Importance of peer support is highlighted and strongly present in our work.
We support girls and women through guidance and counselling to find their own resources and to make their own decisions. We are not scholars of islam and we do not give religious rulings (fataawa).
Our organization offers guidance and counselling to muslim girls and women, and to others who specifically want support based on islamic values. The organisation holds for example weekly peer gatherings, during which is possible to seek one on one guidance and counselling. You can get service- and social advicing holistically considering your situation and your wishes and needs.

How can you contribute to the Network in your country?

We can give our expertize about sovialwok, womenspecialized work and islamic knowledge to the Finnish network. We want to advocate muslim women and girls rights in Finnish society and because we are the only muslimwomen organization in Finland, there would be a good opportunity to the network to use our expertize for the purpose of equal rights for women and girls. 

Contact (1) Full Name
Minna Taipale
Job Title
Chair
Head of the organisation
Minna Taipale
Contact (2) Full Name
Pia Aiyad
Job Title (2)
organization assistant
Publication
Media
Culture
Publication Illustration

An Icy Heaven: Arab Migration on Contemporary Nordic Stages

At the height of the 2015–16 ‘refugee crisis’, how were immigrants and refugees portrayed and self-portrayed on Finnish and Swedish stages? The production and reception of two plays translated from Arabic – Karim Rashed's I Came to See You (2015)...

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Apua Gazaan ry

National Network
Finland
Address

Malminiityntie 12 A42
Vantaa
01350 Vantaa
Finland

Telephone
+358 40 465 1569
Telephone (other)
0452055777
E-Mail
Apuagazaanry@protonmail.com
E-Mail (2)
shehinaz.ali21@gmail.com
Organisation Type
Public/Private Non-Profit Foundation
Year of Establishment
2023
Fields of Activity
  1. Democracy and community development
  2. Environment/Sustainable development
  3. Human rights
  4. International/Cultural relations
  5. Youth and education
General Information

Apua Gazaan Ry. Is a non-profit association with independent legal personality, conceived by Palestinian expatriates living in Finland. It is officially recognized and operates within the Finnish territory. The association aims to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, providing material and moral support to cope with the ongoing hardships of wars, with a focus on aiding children in the region. The association was established on 30/11/2023."
Our association is just starting to get help and get more candidates. We haven't done any events yet but we are planning and starting with many ideas. We started doing a lot of different events. For example, arranging different lessons in several areas that young people can benefit from. There are now 3 of us who have founded the association but we have more candidates who have a lot of knowledge and will help us start our association and help us as much as they can. We have no income at the moment because it is a new association and we have just started but we are not sitting idly by and we are doing our best and we will make our association help most of the children who need us

Mission and Objectives

Apua Gazaan Ry. Is a non-profit association with independent legal personality, conceived by Palestinian expatriates living in Finland. It is officially recognized and operates within the Finnish territory. The association aims to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, providing material and moral support to cope with the ongoing hardships of wars, with a focus on aiding children in the region. The association was established on 30/11/2023

Main Projects / Activities

Our association is just starting to get help and get more candidates. We haven't done any events yet but we are planning and starting with many ideas. We started doing a lot of different events. For example, arranging different lessons in several areas that young people can benefit from. There are now 3 of us who have founded the association but we have more candidates who have a lot of knowledge and will help us start our association and help us as much as they can. We have no income at the moment because it is a new association and we have just started but we are not sitting idly by and we are doing our best and we will make our association help most of the children who need us

Why do you want to join the ALF Network?

I have heard about your organization for a long time and have been inspired to gain knowledge from you. In my association we will help children and their youth. We will implement activities and initiatives that benefit children and raise awareness. In our association, we want to get inspiration, information and thoughts from you to help the most children who need us.

Contact (1) Full Name
Shahnaz Al-rajab
Head of the organisation
Shahnaz

Autokton ry

National Network
Finland
Address

Rasinkatu 4 A 54
Rasinkatu 4 A 54
01360 Vantaa
Finland

Telephone
0466688694
E-Mail
alba.vrapi@gmail.com
E-Mail (2)
autoktonry@gmail.com
E-Mail (3)
alba.vrapi@gmail.com
E-Mail (4)
alba.vrapi@gmail.com
Website
https://autokton.org/
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2022
Fields of Activity
  1. Democracy and community development
General Information

Autokton ry is created in December 2022 and its mission is to serve to Albanian speaking community living in Vantaa in matters like integration, education, health and social interaction. The organization doesn't have employed people full time but only part time and their number is 3. Our partners are Moniheli ry, Vantaa kaupunki, UN Women, Mirsal ry. For 2023 we have got 7000€ as a grant from Moniheli in two different projects *Meet the future* in cooperation with DIAK AMK and *Discover your skills* . We are organizing right now three courses supported from Citizens Forum in Finland . The courses are : :Dancing Albanian traditional dance for women, Cooking Balkan food for men, and Puhutaan Suomea. Main partners: Kansalais Foorumi and Moniheli ry

Mission and Objectives

Autokton ry is committed to empowering the Albanian-speaking community in Finland. We strive to foster integration, promote social interaction, and provide educational and health resources to ensure our members thrive in their adopted homeland. Objectives of Autokton ry: Integration Support: Facilitate the smooth integration of Albanian speakers into Finnish society by providing resources, guidance, and support tailored to their unique needs. Social Interaction: Organize events, gatherings, and programs that encourage social interaction among members, helping them build a strong and supportive community network. Educational Initiatives: Offer educational programs and workshops that cater to the needs of the Albanian-speaking community, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to succeed in Finland. Health and Well-being: Provide health-related resources, seminars, and support to address the specific health concerns and needs of our members. Cultural Preservation: Organize cultural events and programs that celebrate and preserve the rich Albanian heritage, ensuring that it remains vibrant and relevant for future generations. Advocacy: Represent the interests and concerns of the Albanian-speaking community at local and national levels, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are protected. Collaboration: Collaborate with other organizations, both within and outside the Albanian-speaking community, to amplify our impact and reach a wider audience. Continuous Improvement: Regularly assess the needs of our community and adapt our programs and initiatives accordingly, ensuring we remain relevant and effective in our mission.

Main Projects / Activities

'Meet the Future' 'Discover your skills' Cooking Balkan Food Dancing Albanian Traditional Dance Puhutaan Suomea

How can you contribute to the Network in your country?

I believe I can make significant contributions to the Network in my country in several ways: Local Expertise: Having lived and worked in this country for many years, I possess a deep understanding of the local culture, business environment, and societal norms. This knowledge can be invaluable when tailoring Network's initiatives to resonate with the local audience. Building Partnerships: I have established connections with various organizations, institutions, and professionals in different sectors. These relationships can be leveraged to foster collaborations, sponsorships, and partnerships that can benefit the Network's objectives. Organizing Events: I can take the lead in organizing seminars, workshops, and networking events that promote the Network's mission, raise awareness, and engage the local community. Advocacy: I can represent the Network at local forums, conferences, and meetings, advocating for its goals and ensuring our voice is heard at decision-making tables. Resource Mobilization: With my understanding of the local funding landscape, I can assist in identifying potential donors, sponsors, and grant opportunities that can financially support the Network's activities. Capacity Building: I can facilitate training sessions, mentorship programs, and knowledge-sharing platforms to enhance the skills and capabilities of Network members in the country. Feedback and Insights: Being on the ground, I can provide real-time feedback and insights on the effectiveness of the Network's initiatives, suggesting improvements and adaptations based on local feedback. Promotion and Awareness: Through local media channels, social media platforms, and community engagements, I can help in promoting the Network's activities, raising its profile, and increasing its reach within the country. In essence, my local knowledge, connections, and commitment to the Network's mission position me well to make meaningful contributions and drive its success in our country.

Why do you want to join the ALF Network?

I am deeply interested in joining the ALF Network because I recognize its potential as a platform for collaboration, growth, and mutual understanding. One of the primary reasons for my enthusiasm is the opportunity it presents to expand my projects. With the support and resources of the ALF Network, I believe I can take my initiatives to new heights, reaching a broader audience and making a more significant impact. Furthermore, the ALF Network's extensive connections with Mediterranean countries and associations offer a unique chance for cooperation on matters of mutual interest. Such collaborations can lead to the exchange of ideas, resources, and best practices, enriching the work we do and ensuring it is grounded in diverse perspectives and experiences. Joining the ALF Network aligns perfectly with my vision of fostering stronger ties between communities, promoting intercultural dialogue, and working on projects that have a lasting and positive impact. I am excited about the potential synergies and the shared journey of growth and discovery that lies ahead.

Contact (1) Full Name
Alba Vrapi
Job Title
Chairperson
Head of the organisation
Alba Vrapi
Contact (2) Full Name
Dardan Krasnici
Job Title (2)
General Director

Baabelin ystävät ry

National Network
Finland
Address

Anne Hyvönen, Heikinlaaksontie 13
Helsinki
Finland

Telephone
+358400930223
E-Mail
rakashyvonen@gmail.com
Mobile Phone
+358400930223
Website
http://www.baabeli.fi
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2011
Fields of Activity
  1. Democracy and community development
General Information
We are volunteers, but hope to find some financing this years through member fees and donations. Baabelin ystävät ry is a steering committee for webmagazine www.baabeli.fi. As partners we have Helsinki City Library, International Culture Center Kanssandra and Finnish Union of Journalists.
Mission and Objectives

Baabeli.fi wants to build active citizenship and promote dialogue between different cultures and religions.
Webmagazine takes new inhabitants and citizens in Finland seriously and wants to give them a voice. As to tell their own stories.

Main Projects / Activities

Baabeli offers possibilities for immigrant background people in Helsinki region to get media training and a chance to make journalism. We try to act in a multilingual way. The languages we use besides finnish and english are dari, albanian, somali, russian and turkey.

How can you contribute to the Network in your country?

We will contribute to Network by working closely together with two organization that are allready members in ALF.

Why do you want to join the ALF Network?

We want to join ALF Network and be part of a bigger network fighting for peace and sustainable development.

Contact (1) Full Name
Anne Hyvönen chief editor, trainer
Head of the organisation
Anne Hyvönen, chairwoman

Building Bridges: The Concrete Action for Interculturalism and Inclusion in Nordic Theatre

Submitted by Finland on Wed, 18/10/2023 - 14:29
Logos

Welcome to an interesting seminar! The seminar is  organised together with the Hanaholmen Cultural Centre and supported by the Nordic Culture Foundation and the Nordic Culture Point.

  • Seminar on Friday 27th October 2023 at 10.00 – 16.15
  • Address: Hanaholmen Cultural Centre, Hanasaarenranta 5, 02100 Espoo, Finland

The Nordic societies are ever changing and increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse. Nevertheless, the existing arts and culture institutions do not yet reflect these changes or the diverse reality that exists in the Nordics. Which action is needed to normalize inclusivity and diversity?

The seminar discusses on how the cultural and linguistic diversity has influenced in the Nordics, in the diversifying performing arts scene. Which new ways of working and new forms of collaboration are needed to create a more inclusive and equal performing arts field? How can inclusivity and diversity be ensured on, around and in front of the stage? Whose stories are told in the Nordic Region?

The seminar Building Bridges: The Concrete Action for Interculturalism and Inclusion in Nordic Theatre brings together decision-makers and performing arts professionals in the Nordic Region to discuss on concrete action for more intercultural and inclusive performing arts scene.

 

 

 

The seminar is organised by the New Theatre Helsinki initiative and the New Nordic Network: A Platform for Diversity. It is a network of performing arts organizations, groups and collectives, freelance artists and art producers working with the themes of cultural/lingual diversity and inclusion and based in the Nordics or with a strong connection to the Nordic countries. 

The seminar language is English.