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The goal of Familia’s recently started Belingual Project is to enhance the well-being of under school age, intercultural children and their families by guiding and supporting the development of children’s bilingualism and intercultural identities as well as supporting their parent’s educational work using social pedagogic methods.
During the project we will:
If you are interested in the project and would like more information, get in touch with our team. The three-year project is funded by the Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations (STEA). |
More information
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News
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Volunteer to run a virtual reading group - support your children's' language learning!
Virtual reading groups are by parent volunteers, where families with children aged 4-7 come together via Zoom to discuss books. The groups are free for families. A virtual reading group is an easy way to engage in learning and allows children to connect with other children who speak their home language. Find out more. Our first Belingual blog is here! Belingual-hankkeen asiantuntija Mohamed Ali kertoo blogissa omasta kokemuksestaan monikielisen perheen isänä: "Uutena isänä minulla oli paljon opittavaa, eikä kielen ja kulttuurin siirtäminen omalle lapselle ollutkaan niin yksinkertaista, vaikka olin pitänyt sitä itsestään selvänä. Olihan minullekin opetettu somalia ”ihan vain puhumalla”, ajattelin.." |
Belingual newsletter |
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The Belingual Family Network is a community where intercultural, multilingual families from across Finland can:
FAMILY NETWORK STEERING COMMITTEE
To ensure that all our Belingual activities meet the needs and interests of intercultural, multilingual families in Finland, we will work closely with the Family Network Steering Committee. A group of diverse parents and guardians will meet two to four times a year to ensure Belingual activities are inclusive, open and accessible to all multilingual families and that families are active decision makers in the development and realization of the BElingual project. If you are interested in joining the Belingual Family Network Steering Committee, get in touch with our Coordinator, Laura Hytti. |
BElingual advice
Belingual offers on-call help and support in matters related to bi- and multilingualism, as well as information concerning early childhood educational institutions that offer multilingual care.
Telephone Advice: Mondays 13–15.00, 045 78352075 (calls, text messages + Whatsapp) Face-to-face Advice Fridays, 11 am – 1 pm at Familia (Lintulahdenkatu 10 (7th floor), 00500 Helsinki) We offer support in the following areas:
Inquiries regarding support for young adults: tel. +358 44 7328 061 For information on training for early childhood education professionals and maternity clinic staff to support bilingualism and multilingualism, contact you Belingual expert, Mohamed Ali. |
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Belingual language clubs are clubs lead by volunteer parents where families with under school-aged children, who speak the same language as one of your home languages come together to play, sing, craft and have fun. The clubs support children's language and identity development and give families an opportunity to experience their language and culture in a community. The clubs meet every two week for two hours. The whole family can take part int he club and children must always attend with at least one parent or guardian. This spring we have clubs in Helsinki and Espoo but we hope to expand nationally in the fall of 2022. Who can take part in the clubs: All multilingual families who have under-school-aged children, that want to support their children's language and identity development and get to know other families that speak the same language. The club activities are design for children aged 2-6 but the whole family is welcome and we hope the clubs will be a meeting place where families can also get to know each other. The fluency or level of language use of children and parents doesn't matter, as long as the family use the club language or want to strengthen the families relationship with the language and culture. Also parents who do not speak the language of the club are welcome to join and learn with their children. We will meet and support each other where we are and learn together. 
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2022 Spring clubsSATURDAYS
If we don't have a club running in your language, tell us what language that you are interested in or join as a volunteer club leader and let's start a club together. The Belingual team will connect you with other parents that speak your family language, provide training, support and materials, help with finding a club space and marketing.
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Join a reading group from anywhere
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What makes the BElingual Virtual reading group worth it?
A virtual reading group is an easy way to participate in learning! At its best, a reading group can motivate to study to develop a language skill. A reading group requires commitment and an ability to work online. It promotes discussion skills and techniques for reading books and texts. And overall just talking about your thoughts with the other members supports the ability to structure one’s thoughts and consider the big picture. When it works, a reading group is a great way to promote understanding and discussion. Who is a reading group for? BElingual Virtual reading groups are for all parents who want to read and encourage their child to understand, reflect, and discuss in their own home language. Through the reading group, children get to connect with others in their age group. Run by volunteer parents, reading groups are for families with under school age children, and get together every two or three weeks. The groups are free, and intended for children between ages 4-7. They’re also for those interested in reading, who for any reason can’t find a reading group in their own language. |
We're looking for volunteers to run Reading Groups!Interested in organizing a reading group with your own language? You can volunteer to do so, if you’re the parent or carer of a child under the school age, and you’re interested in letting your child hear and read your minority home language. You don’t need prior experience, just the spirit and a willingness to commit to a short training!
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EVENTS
BILINGUAL LABS - PEER WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS OF BILINGUAL CHILDREN
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Bilingual Labs are peer workshops for intercultural parents where you will discuss bilingualism and raising bilingual children.
The workshops are meant for parents of under school age (7 years old) bilingual (or multilingual) children. In the workshop you will get to know about some research about bilingualism and also share your own experiences with others.
Register here by 14.6.22 |
Belingual Advice: Mondays 13–15.00, 045 78352075 (calls, text messages + Whatsapp) CONTACT INFORMATION:
Familia ry, Lintulahdenkatu 10 00500 Helsinki Mohamed Ali Expert (Somali, Finnish & English) +358 50 366 0551 mohamed.ali (at) familiary.fi Laura Hytti Coordinator (Finnish, English & Spanish) +358 44 726 8752 laura.hytti (at) familiary.fi
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