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The activities of Side by side project are meant for intercultural couples and families in which one partner is waiting for a residence permit decision. We organize peer groups, discussion and other events on subjects relevant to those waiting for a residence permit or otherwise in problematic situation with the residence permit.
Peer support groups are worthwhile for you if you need support in your own everyday coping and taking care of your relationship from others in similar life situation. You can have information, new contacts and points of view in your everyday life. We always plan the activities together with the participants and agree on the rules of the group activities together as well. What kind of activities would empower you in the life situation that is insecure? What kind of information do you need the most? We can also meet in person and go through your individual situation if you need advice. |
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SPRING 2021
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ASK & DISCUSS EVENT: Let’s talk about EXPERTISE BY EXPERIENCE
Thursday 18th of March at 5pm to 6pm via Teams What means expertise by experience? How can you come as an expert by experience? And what is the difference between expert by experience and peer support person? In Let’s talk about expertise by experience -event our expert guest is expert by experience trainer Emmi Hela from Ensi- ja turvakotien liitto. She will talk about expertise by experience and the content of the expert by experience training. An expert by experience Nora Dadi will be interviewed at the event. She will share her own experience as an expert by experience. We will also discuss what is the difference between peer support person and expert by experience. Link: bit.ly/kysy_keskustele180321 The event is open to all people interested in expertise by experience. The event is in Finnish. The event will be held remotely via Teams. There is no pre-registration for the event. YOU´RE WELCOME TO DISCUSS MENTAL WELLBEING AT RESILIENCE EVENING ON THURSDAY 11th OF FEBRUARY AT 5PM ONLINE IN TEAMS!
Why does psychic resilience in difficult life situations vary from person to person? Does hardship improve it? Does it get better with age or can you exercise it? And what helps to endure if the difficulties – like stress related to residence permit procedure – go on for years without knowing the end result? In our Resilience event we will hear about the subject from the expert point of view from Special Advisor Suvi Piironen as well as from experience specialist from the Side by side project. After the introductory speeches we talk about the subject together. The event is open to all people interested in mental wellbeing themes. |
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GROUPS
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RINNALLASI PEER SUPPORT GROUP ON FACEBOOK
If you live in an intercultural family and you or your spouse is waiting for a residence permit decision, please follow our facebook page. You can also send us a request to join our closed Rinnallasi peer group. The link to our facebook page: facebook.com/groups/rinnallasi/ CLOSED PEER SUPPORT GROUP ON TEAMS The closed peer group gathers every two weeks on Teams platform. In the group you can share your own experiences on residence permit process and receive information and support for the waiting time. SPRING 2021 PEER GROUPS ARE ONGOING ONLINE There are two groups, one in Finnish and another one in English. The groups gather on uneven weeks on Tuesdays at 5 pm via remote Teams connection. You can inquire about the possibility to join from the project staff. The contact information is at the end of the page. |
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SIDE BY SIDE LECTURES AND DISCUSSION EVENTS
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17.9 ASK & DISCUSS -EVENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY WHEN WAITING FOR A RESIDENCE PERMIT DECISION IN FINLAND
What are the social and health rights of a foreign national waiting for a residence permit decision in Finland? What kind of social security and services are available in different situations; for example if income is not enough to cover life expenses, one becomes sick or is in otherwise in need of support? Pinja Hyppönen and Emmi Karppinen, social workers for undocumented migrants at Helsinki City will deliver a lecture on the subject at the discussion event by Familia´s Side by Side (Rinnallasi) project. After the introduction participants are free to ask questions and comment on the subject. The event is open to all interested in the subject. We will organize a small live event in our offices at Lintulahdenkatu 10. Remote participants can attend via Teams connection. The number of participants in our office premises is restricted so that we can follow the social distancing required by the COVID pandemia. LET´S DISCUSS EMPLOYMENT AND TE SERVICES 15.10 at 15
While waiting for a residence permit decision it is good to prepare oneself for positive decision and what to do after that. Familia´s Side by side project organizes an Ask & discuss event in which an expert from TE services (public employment and business services in Finland) Kirsi Tolvanen gives a presentation and answers questions. What to do when you are granted a residence permit in Finland and want to start working or studying? How does the TE services function? What options to get employed are available? Can you start studying? And what if you cannot find a job, is it possible to get the unemployment benefit? GLOBAL CLINIC AND THE RIGHT TO HEALTH OF UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS IN FINLAND 19.11.2020
Undocumented migrants have a right to health services in Finland. How does this right become reality in Finland at the moment? Planning officer Meri Korniloff representing Global Clinic will tell us how the clinic for undocumented migrants works based on the voluntary work of health care professionals and what are the health rights of the migrants who are residing in the country irregularly. After the introduction we will discuss the topic together. The main points of the introduction are available in both Finnish and English, and both languages can be used during the event. We have already heard the officials´viewpoint on the topic on our previous Ask & discuss event in 17th of September when the social workers for undocumented migrants from Helsinki city social services were our guest speakers. Now we continue the discussion from the civil society viewpoint. |
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COUNSELING
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If you need counseling, you can book a appointment with our project workers or you can leave a contact request with the form at the end of this site.
We can go through your individual situation. In our counselling meeting we discuss how to start the residence permit process and the steps of it, which many involve concern and uncertainty. We can go through Finnish authorities system and public services to provide the person waiting for the residence permit. Especially studying opportunities during the waiting period interests many foreign spouses. We also meet people who just got the permit and need advice what to do next and how to apply continues permit. We offer counseling through email, by phone, face to face or remotely through Teams. |
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TO WHOM
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The activities of Side by side project are meant for intercultural couples and families in which one partner is waiting for a residence permit decision. Intercultural marriage has it own special issues, for at least one spouse lives his life abroad.
Intercultural family can also be a marriage between two immigrants born in different countries, in which case neither one of the spouse is Finnish. Foreign spouses living in intercultural families may apply for a residence permit based on different grounds. Some have a protracted asylum process in the background and they are awaiting for the decision on the application for international protection. Some apply for residence permit based on family ties. A Intercultural family member may apply residence permit also based on work, entrepreneurship or studies. A Couple might live together in Finland or the foreign spouse might stay in his/her home country waiting for the residence permit decision, in which case they live in a long term relationship. The group is diverse, but the unifying factor in a life situation is uncertainty pending a residence permit decision. This affects the overall well-being and relationship of both spouses. The foreign person waiting for the residence permit decision based on family ties don’t have the right to work, so many families struggle with financial problems. Usually it’s very difficult for the foreign spouse to not be able to work and take part of the maintenance of the family, but they are dependent on the spouse. |
"Maahanmuuttoviraston haastattelussa kysyttiin eräältä vastaavassa tilanteessa olevalta tuttavapariskunnaltamme: miksi ylipäätään ryhdyitte parisuhteeseen, vaikka suhteellanne ei ole varmaa tulevaisuutta? Tällaista syyllistävää kysymystä ei kuule ikinä muulloin Suomessa. Hyviin tapoihin kuuluu, ettei toisen parisuhdetta kyseenalaisteta. Mutta meidän tapauksissamme se on sallittua.” 
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TARGET GROUP SURVEY 2020
We will gather information on the needs of the target group and what kind of support or activities the members of intercultural families need. Please answer our survey. In English: https://forms.gle/Lz4kJ8hK3Yfw5Qom6 Suomeksi: https://forms.gle/hMnyhh2rNm9ocszg9 |
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Contact informationFamilia ry, Lintulahdenkatu 10
00500 Helsinki Project manager Sanna Rummakko (Finnish, English, Swedish) 044 726 8752 sanna.rummakko(at)familiary.fi Project worker Anu Kytömäki (Finnish, English) 044 716 8752 anu.kytomaki(at)familiary.fi |
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