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In this thought-provoking reflection, our colleague Nora Dadi explores how Finland’s response to racism in recent years reveals a deeper challenge: one that goes beyond communication and into the heart of human connection. Drawing on her experience as an anti-racist educator, Nora examines what happens when public institutions choose image over accountability, and how we can move from performance to genuine, lasting change.
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Mitä tapahtuu, kun kaksi kulttuuria kohtaavat samassa kodissa – ei vain erityisissä juhlissa, vaan myös päivittäisen elämän pienissä rutiineissa? Tässä blogissa A. Buchanan kertoo interkulttuurisesta avioliitostaan, jossa amerikkalaiset maapähkinävoita koskevat tavat kohtaavat suomalaiset astianpesuharjat ja jopa kalenteri voi tehdä temppuja.
Arjen hetkien ja rehellisen huumorin kautta hän muistuttaa meitä siitä, että kulttuurinen identiteetti ei ole jotain, jota koemme vain lomien aikana tai teoriassa: se on jotain, joka hiljaa muokkaa aamujamme, aterioitamme ja muistoja. In this blog, Michael Suhonen reflects on his six-month work try-out at Familia. A time filled with intercultural encounters, honest self-examination, and moments of growth. He shares how meeting people from diverse backgrounds challenged old assumptions, deepened his understanding of privilege and prejudice, and reminded him that change begins with self-awareness. Michael invites us to consider the power of listening, learning, and, as he puts it, “handshake by handshake,” building a more inclusive world.
As the Finnish summer slowly fades, so do the long, carefree days at the mökki and unhurried mornings with family. For many, the return to routine brings a quiet heaviness: fatigue, restlessness, or a sense of sadness known as the end-of-summer blues. For intercultural families, this transition can feel especially intense: shifting from reconnecting with loved ones abroad to going back to school, job hunting, and navigating everyday life in a new culture.
In this blog, Nicole Yammine, Familia’s Family Planning Officer, offers gentle, practical tools to ease the seasonal shift--with compassion, a realistic perspective, and hope. Pride-kuukauden kunniaksi Familia haastatteli Ahmetia ja Jenniferiä (nimet muutettu) heidän kokemuksistaan kahden kulttuurin sateenkaariperheenä. Ahmet on turkkilainen cissukupuolinen ei-valkoiseksi rodullistettu heteromies ja asuu Tallinnassa. Jennifer puolestaan on ei-binäärinen valkoiseksi rodullistettu queer ihminen Yhdysvalloista ja asuu Helsingissä.
Yhdessä he pohtivat turvallisuutta, näkyvyyttä ja osallisuutta kielestä ja lainsäädännöstä elettyihin kokemuksiin. June is Pride Month – a time to celebrate love, freedom, and the right to be ourselves. This year’s Helsinki Pride theme, “Without Borders,” reminds us that human rights, including the right to self-expression and safety, must not be limited by geography, culture, or prejudice. At Familia, we recognize how challenging coming out can be, especially for those in intercultural families or communities where being LGBTQIA+ is still taboo. In this deeply personal blog, Michael Suhonen, currently doing a work try-out at Familia, shares his journey of coming out, healing, and finding pride after trauma. His story shines a light on the realities many still face, and how support, visibility, and community can break barriers..
Fresh from completing her internship at Familia, Sabine Deutsch shares a snapshot of “Vaikuttamo 2025,” an Espoo‑wide event designed to amplify 9th‑graders’ voices and civic engagement. Representing our MunDuo project, Sabine invited more than a hundred teens to answer three simple questions about the future-- and their post‑it notes reveal what today’s youth want to change, how they plan to help, and who they hope will stand with them. From calls for lower voting ages to concerns over equality, safety, and affordable housing, their messages remind us why MunDuo exists: to give intercultural young people a space to be heard, supported, and inspired.
Trigger warning: This blog contains descriptions of domestic violence, court proceedings, and parental custody loss. Reader discretion is advised.
What happens when a mother leaves an abusive relationship to protect her child only to be punished by the very system that was supposed to help her? This anonymous blog shares one woman’s lived experience navigating Finland’s family court system as a foreign mother and survivor of domestic violence. Her story is painful, and honest- and sadly, not uncommon among intercultural families. |
blogi - blogAjatuksia ja kokemuksia elämästä kahden kulttuurin keskellä.
Reflections and experiences from the life of intercultural families. kategoriat
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osallistuToivotamme sinut lämpimästi tervetulleeksi osallistumaan blogiyhteisöömme: lue, kommentoi ja kirjoita!
Kirjoittajina voivat toimia kaikki kahden kulttuurin arkea elävät ja aiheesta kiinnostuneet. Kynnystä kirjoittamiselle ei tule nostaa liian korkealle ja kirjoittaa voi joko omalla nimellä tai nimimerkillä. Blogissa esitetyt näkökannat ja mielipiteet ovat kirjoittajien omia, eivätkä edusta Familian kantaa. Kahden kulttuurin arki on itsessään kiinnostavaa ja siitä kirjoittaminen voi avata myös itselle uusia näkökulmia! Blogikirjoituksia voi tarjota sähköpostitse (info@ familiary.fi) tai yhteydenottolomakkeen kautta. Lopullisen valinnan julkaistavista jutuista tekee Familian henkilökunta. Tervetuloa mukaan! participate!We warmly welcome you to participate in our blog community: read, comment, and write!
Anyone who lives and works in the world of intercultural families and is interested in the topic is welcome to contribute. The threshold for writing should not be too high, and you can write either under your own name or under a pseudonym. Keep in mind that the views and opinions expressed in the blog are those of the authors and do not represent the position of Familia. The everyday life of intercultural families is interesting and writing about it can also open new perspectives for you! Your story matters and helps to raise awareness about the opportunities and challenges within intercultural families. Blog contributions can be submitted by e-mail (info@ familiary.fi) or via our contact form. Final selection and edition of the stories to be published will be conducted by our staff. Welcome to join us! |
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