FAMILIA
  • Etusivu
  • Home
  • TOIMINTAA JA TUKEA
    • Vertaisryhmät
    • Vanhempainvalmennus
    • Neuvonta ja tuki
    • Eri polut - hanke
    • Tapahtumat
    • Vapaaehtoistoiminta
    • Kokemusasiantuntijat
    • Kerhot ja työpajat
    • Tuetut lomat ja leirit
    • Belingual -kielikerhot >
      • Kielikerhot
    • Munduo - kahden kulttuurin nuorille
  • ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT
    • Peer Groups
    • Duo Family Training
    • Advice and support
    • Different Paths - project
    • Events
    • Volunteering
    • Experts by Experience
    • Clubs and workshops
    • Subsidised vacations and camps
    • Belingual Language Clubs >
      • Clubs
    • Munduo - For Intercultural Youth
  • TIETOA
    • Tietoa kahden kulttuurin perheistä >
      • Kahden kulttuurin perheet Suomessa
    • Uutiskirjeet
    • Blogi
    • Vaikuttamistyö >
      • Kuntavaaliteesit 2025
      • Aluevaaliteesit 2025
      • Alue-ja kuntavaalit 2025
      • Perhevapaat kahden kulttuurin perheissä
      • Oman äidinkielen opetus
      • Antirasistinen vaikuttamistyö
      • Mitä kaksikielisyys merkitsee sinulle
      • Hallitusohjelmatavoitteet 2023-2027
      • Kuntapoliittiset tavoitteet 2021–2025
    • Suomi+ podcast
    • Nettikurssit ja oppaat >
      • Kuinka puhua rasismista ja syrjinnästä -opas
    • Kokonainen minä lastenkirja
    • Ammattilaisille
    • Rinnallasi-materiaalipankki
    • Puolison polku - työllistyminen, kotoutuminen ja hyvinvointi
    • Menneet hankkeet
  • INFORMATION
    • Intercultural families in Finland
    • Newsletter
    • Blog >
      • Familia: 35 years
    • Advocacy >
      • Municipal elections 2025 objectives
      • County elections 2025 objectives
      • Local Elections 2025
      • Family leave in intercultural families
      • Mother tongue instruction
      • Anti-racism Advocacy
      • Government program objectives
      • Municipal politics objectives 2021-2025
    • Suomi+ podcast
    • Online courses and guides >
      • Tools for Speaking about Racism and Discrimination Guide
    • Kokonainen minä children's book
    • Professionals
    • Past Projects
  • SUOMEN KIELI
  • FINNISH LANGUAGE
  • JOIN US
    • Become a member
    • Open Positions
    • Internship & Work Try-Out
  • FAMILIA
    • Contact information
    • Privacy notice
    • Accessibility statement
  • TULE MUKAAN
    • Liity jäseneksi
    • Avoimet työpaikat
    • Tule harjoitteluun & työkokeiluun
  • FAMILIA
    • Yhteystiedot
    • Rekisteriseloste
    • Saavutettavuusseloste

Familia 35V

Mahsa Khoshnejad's Story

5/10/2023

0 Comments

 

Story #22

Picture
​My journey into a multicultural environment began 13 years ago when I moved from Shiraz, Iran, to the Aalto University campus in Espoo. On the campus, I had the chance to share meals and celebrate various traditions and cultures. Later on, I entered into a multicultural family. My husband has two Finnish-English children, which adds another layer to our multicultural experience. Food has become an important part of our identity as we mix different traditions. We celebrate Nowruz, a Persian New Year tradition, with a spread of delicious dishes. Likewise, Christmas has the satisfying flavours of Finnish and English cuisine, bringing a mix of cultures to our table. 
​Like any other story, this is the bright side. But what about the real challenges? Yes, I did suffer from the darkness until I learnt that I could light my house with Christmas lights and candles – and of course to take vitamin D. I realized that I need more friends; but how could I enter the Finnish community without knowing the language?!
Picture
Still, I don’t know how! 😀 Honestly everyone speaks very good English around here.  

​I did suffer when searching for a job related to my degree in Art, until I learnt that I can do other things and learn new skills. Then I knocked on the door of a play school, and I asked if I could work there; and yes, I got a job (without sending my CV) and ended up working there for 12 years. 
​Thanks to the Finnish education system, they educated me during my work. Over the years, I worked with children of between three and seven years of age. My most recent year at day-care was spent working with toddlers, which brought me a lot of joy! I enjoyed engaging in art and craft activities with the children, finally using my degree in Art. But all this time, I worked in an English playschool and now I need to face my fear – learning the Finnish language 😀. I’ve postponed it all these years and now it’s the time, since I'm studying Social Services and, for my future job, it will be necessary to know Finnish.
​Last year, through my classmate, I became familiar with Familia! I started following them on social media and I registered for various workshops and the training they offer. In “Duo job hunting,” which was a peer support group gathering immigrants together, we learnt different skills such as how to search for jobs and how to present ourselves in interviews. We learnt that searching for a job is not just about sending your CV, you need to make phone calls or go to companies and ask for face-to-face meetings. I wish I had known these kinds of NGOs and organizations earlier. Anyway, it’s never too late.  
​My involvement with Familia is providing an opportunity to participate this autumn in training called “Expert by Experience”. These experts promote the well-being of intercultural families by sharing their experiences in peer groups, training, seminars or in collaboration with the media. I will be able to raise awareness based on my own experiences and helping others who share the same experience. I am looking forward to doing that! 
Picture
If you are interested in becoming an Expert by Experience, or want to know more about this click here or contact Hanna Kinnunen

Editor: yvette ahonen

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Haluamme kertoa juhlavuotemme kunniaksi 35 tarinaa kahden kulttuurin perheistä

    Julkaisemme 35 viikon ajan 35 erilaista tarinaa, jotka kuvastavat monia haasteita ja mahdollisuuksia, joita kahden kulttuurin perheet jokapäiväisessä elämässään kohtaavat. Haluamme näiden tarinoiden heijastavan todellisuutta ja tarjoavan vertaistukea, voimaannuttavia kokemuksia ja inspiraation lähteitä sekä lisäävän tietoisuutta kulttuurienvälisyydestä ja monikielisyydestä Suomessa.

    For 35 weeks, we will be publishing 35 different stories that reflect the many challenges and opportunities intercultural families face in their everyday lives. We want these stories to reflect reality and serve as an accessible peer support, source of empowerment and inspiration, and increase awareness of Interculturalism and Multilingualism in Finland.

    Archives

    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023

    Categories

    All
    35v English
    35v Suomeksi

    RSS Feed

Toimisto / OFFICE 

Haapaniemenkatu 7-9 B,
​10. kerros / 10th floor
​00530 Helsinki
Suomi-Finland

Puhelin / PHONE

+358 44 773 8628 
​(Ma-To 10.00-14.00 | Mon-Thu 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

aukioloajat / Opening times

Toimistomme ovat avoinna vierailijoille. Suosittelemme kuitenkin ystävällisesti soittamaan etukäteen ja sopimaan henkilökohtaisen tapaamisen.

Our offices are open to visitors. We kindly suggest calling in advance to book an appointment and meet us in person. ​

VAT-numero / VAT-Number

​1056329-6

Familia ry logo
Familia on johtava kahden kulttuurin perheiden asiantuntija ja edunvalvoja 
​Familia is the leading expert and advocate of intercultural families
Picture
© Familia 2024
  • Etusivu
  • Home
  • TOIMINTAA JA TUKEA
    • Vertaisryhmät
    • Vanhempainvalmennus
    • Neuvonta ja tuki
    • Eri polut - hanke
    • Tapahtumat
    • Vapaaehtoistoiminta
    • Kokemusasiantuntijat
    • Kerhot ja työpajat
    • Tuetut lomat ja leirit
    • Belingual -kielikerhot >
      • Kielikerhot
    • Munduo - kahden kulttuurin nuorille
  • ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT
    • Peer Groups
    • Duo Family Training
    • Advice and support
    • Different Paths - project
    • Events
    • Volunteering
    • Experts by Experience
    • Clubs and workshops
    • Subsidised vacations and camps
    • Belingual Language Clubs >
      • Clubs
    • Munduo - For Intercultural Youth
  • TIETOA
    • Tietoa kahden kulttuurin perheistä >
      • Kahden kulttuurin perheet Suomessa
    • Uutiskirjeet
    • Blogi
    • Vaikuttamistyö >
      • Kuntavaaliteesit 2025
      • Aluevaaliteesit 2025
      • Alue-ja kuntavaalit 2025
      • Perhevapaat kahden kulttuurin perheissä
      • Oman äidinkielen opetus
      • Antirasistinen vaikuttamistyö
      • Mitä kaksikielisyys merkitsee sinulle
      • Hallitusohjelmatavoitteet 2023-2027
      • Kuntapoliittiset tavoitteet 2021–2025
    • Suomi+ podcast
    • Nettikurssit ja oppaat >
      • Kuinka puhua rasismista ja syrjinnästä -opas
    • Kokonainen minä lastenkirja
    • Ammattilaisille
    • Rinnallasi-materiaalipankki
    • Puolison polku - työllistyminen, kotoutuminen ja hyvinvointi
    • Menneet hankkeet
  • INFORMATION
    • Intercultural families in Finland
    • Newsletter
    • Blog >
      • Familia: 35 years
    • Advocacy >
      • Municipal elections 2025 objectives
      • County elections 2025 objectives
      • Local Elections 2025
      • Family leave in intercultural families
      • Mother tongue instruction
      • Anti-racism Advocacy
      • Government program objectives
      • Municipal politics objectives 2021-2025
    • Suomi+ podcast
    • Online courses and guides >
      • Tools for Speaking about Racism and Discrimination Guide
    • Kokonainen minä children's book
    • Professionals
    • Past Projects
  • SUOMEN KIELI
  • FINNISH LANGUAGE
  • JOIN US
    • Become a member
    • Open Positions
    • Internship & Work Try-Out
  • FAMILIA
    • Contact information
    • Privacy notice
    • Accessibility statement
  • TULE MUKAAN
    • Liity jäseneksi
    • Avoimet työpaikat
    • Tule harjoitteluun & työkokeiluun
  • FAMILIA
    • Yhteystiedot
    • Rekisteriseloste
    • Saavutettavuusseloste