Our Upcoming Work in Finland
Standing with Finland’s caregivers in a changing landscape.
Helsinki City Hall.
From November 21–28, Mending Together will travel to Finland to support local parishes and community leaders caring for refugees and displaced people.
Finland has a long history of receiving people displaced by war and forced migration. Since the 1970s, the country has welcomed communities from Vietnam, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, and other parts of the world. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Finland also became home to tens of thousands of Ukrainians seeking safety. Recent Eurostat data indicate that more than 70,000 people who fled Ukraine are living in Finland under temporary protection. Behind these figures are individuals, families, and the people working every day to welcome and support them.
Supporting the Caregivers
In partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Refugee Round Table at the Ecumenical Churches Council of Finland, Mending Together will offer programs for local parishes involved in refugee care. Over the course of the visit, we will meet with caregivers and community leaders in Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, and Pori. Each city plays a distinct role in Finland’s refugee reception and integration efforts.
Helsinki has welcomed refugees for decades. All over the city, newcomers find belonging, build relationships, and establish a sense of home.
Turku is one of Finland’s largest municipalities. It
is home to the Migration Institute of Finland,
which documents and studies migration trends.
Tampere has developed strong community-based approaches to refugee reception and integration. Its work (housing, healthcare support, and skills development initiatives) is a model for other EU nations. (Pyynikki Tower is pictured on the left)
Pori, a smaller coastal city, has been able to provide highly personalized support. Local services respond closely to each refugee’s circumstances, abilities, and long-term goals.
Responding to a Changing Reality
Finland’s churches and communities have spent decades welcoming people displaced by crises elsewhere. Today, Russia’s war against Ukraine and the broader security concerns facing Northern Europe have brought questions of preparedness and displacement closer to home. Many of the people caring for refugees are now carrying their own uncertainty about what future crises could mean for their families and communities.
We are adapting our programs to reflect this changing reality. Alongside practical tools for refugee care, our work will create space for caregivers to attend to their own well-being, strengthen their resilience, and prepare to support their communities through continued uncertainty. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland describes welcoming the stranger as essential to the Christian faith and calls its parishes to advocate for migrants and refugees. We are honored to stand alongside those living out this commitment every day.
Help Us Gather and Sustain Caregivers
Our partners are working diligently to bring together participants in four cities. Your support will help us reach these communities and equip the people who continue to offer care in an increasingly uncertain environment.
Donor contribution help make possible our travel, training, facilitated sessions, program materials, and ongoing partnership with caregivers in Finland. Help us gather and sustain those who care for others.