What is Familia?
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Familia ry – founded in 1988 – is a national expert organisation of intercultural families. We support the wellbeing of intercultural families by offering peer support and volunteer activities, information, and advice. We also aim at making improvements in the social and legal systems, so that the needs of intercultural and multilingual families and Finns would be better met.
Intercultural families as a term, refers to families in which family members have different cultural backgrounds. This usually means, that the partners were born and raised in different countries and speak different native languages. A child or children raised by a parent (s) with different cultural background (s), are also considered part of an intercultural family. |
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News
Familia’s expert opinion on the government’s proposal to the Finnish Parliament on the subject of changing the Act on Child Home Care Allowances and Private Child Care Allowances
21.11.25
Familia provided the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health with an expert opinion on a draft proposal on the Act on Child Home Care Allowances and Private Childcare Allowances 2 and 3§. The government’s draft proposest that child home care allowance would be restricted based on the time the guardian of the child, or the guardian’s spouse (the so called Norwegian model). The draft proposal is discriminatory and if made a law it would increase inequality and the families’ right to choose. We call for family policies that make Finland more equal, and for the disassembling of other barriers that affect mothers who have recently moved to Finland.
Read the statement in full here (only available in FInnish).
21.11.25
Familia provided the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health with an expert opinion on a draft proposal on the Act on Child Home Care Allowances and Private Childcare Allowances 2 and 3§. The government’s draft proposest that child home care allowance would be restricted based on the time the guardian of the child, or the guardian’s spouse (the so called Norwegian model). The draft proposal is discriminatory and if made a law it would increase inequality and the families’ right to choose. We call for family policies that make Finland more equal, and for the disassembling of other barriers that affect mothers who have recently moved to Finland.
Read the statement in full here (only available in FInnish).
Welcome to Familia’s autumn meeting!
17.11.25
Familia’s autumn meeting is held on Wednesday 3rd December at 18.00. Meeting is held online (Zoom) and at Familia’s office.
The meeting will deal with statutory matters.
Pre-registration is REQUIRED so that we can reserve catering for those attending on site, send the Zoom link to remote participants, and send the meeting material by email in advance. Register for the meeting by Sunday, November 30th. The meeting material will be sent by email no later than Monday, December 1st.
Warmly welcome!
Familia's board
17.11.25
Familia’s autumn meeting is held on Wednesday 3rd December at 18.00. Meeting is held online (Zoom) and at Familia’s office.
The meeting will deal with statutory matters.
Pre-registration is REQUIRED so that we can reserve catering for those attending on site, send the Zoom link to remote participants, and send the meeting material by email in advance. Register for the meeting by Sunday, November 30th. The meeting material will be sent by email no later than Monday, December 1st.
Warmly welcome!
Familia's board
Familia's report on dual and multiple citizenships in Finland has been published
12.11.25
Familia completed a report on the significance of dual and multiple citizenships between 2024 and 2025. The purpose of the report is to increase understanding on the meanings given to dual and multiple citizenships. The report is topical since the Ministry of Interior is assessing the possibility to move to a reciprocal dual citizenship system. Because dual and multiple citizenships are significant to people, and giving up a citizenship can be difficult, straining, and an expensive task, restrictions to the dual citizenship system could impact people with dual and multiple citizenships negatively.
Read the report in full here (only available in Finnish).
12.11.25
Familia completed a report on the significance of dual and multiple citizenships between 2024 and 2025. The purpose of the report is to increase understanding on the meanings given to dual and multiple citizenships. The report is topical since the Ministry of Interior is assessing the possibility to move to a reciprocal dual citizenship system. Because dual and multiple citizenships are significant to people, and giving up a citizenship can be difficult, straining, and an expensive task, restrictions to the dual citizenship system could impact people with dual and multiple citizenships negatively.
Read the report in full here (only available in Finnish).
Familia belongs to the Diverse-Family network. The network consists of ten different family associations representing a variety of different types of families. The aim of the Diverse Families Network is a society where families are equal, and every family can be proud of itself.
JOIN US!
As a member of Familia, you are a valuable part of our community that promotes the well-being and equality of intercultural families in Finland. As a member, your voice and that of your family can be heard in the planning of services and in decision-making related to multiculturalism, multilingualism, immigration and integration, for example. As our member, you can also participate in Familia's regular meetings and thus, develop our activities.
As a member of Familia, you are a valuable part of our community that promotes the well-being and equality of intercultural families in Finland. As a member, your voice and that of your family can be heard in the planning of services and in decision-making related to multiculturalism, multilingualism, immigration and integration, for example. As our member, you can also participate in Familia's regular meetings and thus, develop our activities.
activities
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