A Place to Belong

Internships are often described as opportunities to gain experience, build professional skills, and explore future career paths. But sometimes, they become something more personal and unexpected.

In this blog, former intern Charlie reflects on an internship experience that went far beyond professional growth. Through peer support groups, creative workshops, and everyday moments shared with colleagues and participants, Charlie writes about finding confidence, community, and a sense of belonging after many years of living in Finland. His reflection is a reminder that meaningful workplaces are not only places where we learn new skills, but also spaces where people can feel seen, valued, and at home. 

​With my internship period over, I found myself back within the familiar walls of my school for a seminar about how all my classmates and I had experienced our placements.

Around me, I heard stories of toxic workplaces filled with gossip and conflict between co-workers and management, internship supervisors who clearly didn’t want to be teaching a student, biting toddlers, and the general impression that everyone had aged a few years in the last three months and were relieved to be done.

In front of us was a paper with reflection questions. The first asked what I had expected from my placement, and what the reality had been.

​I got the feeling the question was meant to suggest that rosy expectations and ideals usually don’t survive reality. My experience was different.

I thought back to my last day at Familia. A day I knew was coming from the beginning, but one I quickly came to dread and delay as much as possible. A hard ending deadline slowly shifted, blurred, and became a little hazier, more of an it’ll come when it comes, but I won’t think about it right now kind of feeling.

My last day was far more emotional than I expected. I suddenly realised that the people I’d been seeing every day, laughing with, planning with, celebrating with, working alongside, meant so much more to me than I ever could have expected.

​Leaving felt like leaving a party much earlier than you wanted to. Or maybe, more familiarly for me, like moving across the world from your home country and saying goodbye to all the people, places, and things you know and love.

Listening to the stories around me, I realised this kind of experience was something rare.

What did I expect all those months ago?

I expected a good learning experience. I expected to build skills, grow professionally, and get a better sense of the kind of work I want to do in the future.

That all happened, without a doubt.

I’ve always been stubborn, determined, and probably a little hard-headed, especially when it comes to advocacy and standing up for what I believe is right, for justice, equality, and for people who are pushed aside, underestimated, or treated like they matter less.
That’s what drew me toward Familia in the first place. When it came time to apply for internships, I sent exactly one application, honestly, just one email, to Elina Helmanen.

Thankfully, she took a chance on me.

Looking back now, it feels strange that something that started so simply ended up meaning so much.

​During my time at Familia, I co-facilitated a peer support group, which pushed me in the best way. I became more confident facilitating, more comfortable trusting my own voice, and more sure of what I’m capable of.

I got to be part of creative art pop-ups for children and families, which let me bring a completely different side of myself into the work. I also helped plan and co-facilitate a workshop around belonging as an immigrant, where we explored ideas around the so-called “good” and “bad” immigrant, challenged those narratives, and created space for people to simply exist as they are.

Yes, I learned a lot professionally. I could tick all the boxes my school wanted: what I learned, what methods I used, what languages I practised.

But the biggest thing I gained wasn’t a skill.

It was belonging.

​After ten years in Finland, I found community in a way I honestly wasn’t expecting. I found warmth, encouragement, creativity, and people who made space for me exactly as I was.

Somewhere along the way, I found the family within the name Familia.

This internship helped me grow professionally, absolutely. But it also helped me reconnect with myself, my values, and the kind of work I know I’m meant to do. After years of not being fully sure where I fit, that kind of certainty sometimes felt almost dizzying in the best way.​

​Some internship experiences teach you skills. You do your tasks, appease your teachers with your academic growth, and move on. Maybe you even forget the experience altogether.

Mine taught me skills.

But it also gave me a sense of home.

Written by: charlie särkikangas