The need for Stronger Integration
- Naomy Hyvönen
- 17.3.
- 3 min käytetty lukemiseen
Finland has been my home for two decades. I arrived as a university student, full of ambition, eager to carve out a path that would give me the future I wanted. As a young student I survived in an expensive country without social welfare support, navigating a culture that values social distance while fostering deep, lasting friendships, and enduring long, dark winters that tested both my resilience and my mental well-being.
Yet, despite the deep connection I felt toward Finland a few years later, one fact remained: integration is not automatic. It is an ongoing journey, not just for the foreigners but for the society that welcomes them. And while Finland has made strides in integration policies, many foreign-born residents today still face the same struggles I did decades ago—challenges that should have been addressed long ago.
A Cycle That Must Be Broken
In the year 2000, after graduating from the University, I struggled to find work in my field. Despite my education and skills gained while interning at an organisation abroad, opportunities were scarce in Finland. Like many others after me, I took low paying jobs that were available - before deciding to continue my studies to improve my employability. But here we are, 25 years later, and countless foreign graduates in Finland still face the same barriers. According to research by the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, foreign-born job seekers are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to their Finnish counterparts, even when they hold the same qualifications. The OECD has also highlighted that Finland’s labor market integration lags behind other Nordic countries, with foreign professionals frequently underemployed. It is unacceptable that highly educated immigrants remain sidelined while Finland faces labor shortages in multiple sectors. The system must evolve to recognize international talent, eliminate discriminatory hiring practices, and provide effective career pathways for foreigners.
The Silent Struggle
Beyond employment, integration is deeply personal. It is about belonging, and yet, for many foreigners, it remains elusive. I understand firsthand what it means to be misunderstood because of cultural differences—the subtle moments when one’s enthusiasm is misread as aggression, or when silence is mistaken for disinterest. This misunderstanding often leads to withdrawal as a means of self-preservation, which, if left unchecked, spirals into loneliness.
Loneliness among immigrants is a growing concern in Finland. A recent study by the Family Federation of Finland (Väestöliitto) found that nearly 40% of immigrants report feeling lonely often, compared to 17% of the general population. This is not just a personal issue—it is a societal one. A country’s strength lies in the well-being of its people ,and that includes those who have made Finland their home.
The Need for Stronger Community Participation
For families and foreigners alike, community participation is the key to successful integration. Having lived in Espoo now since 2007, raising my own family here, I know the joys and trials of parenthood—whether it is navigating daycare and school systems, ensuring children are rooted in values that shape their identity, or helping teenagers make sense of a world that bombards them with conflicting information. Parents need support, and that support must come from a strong, inclusive community.
Cities like Espoo must do more to strengthen integration at the grassroots level. Community-based initiatives, mentorship programs, and local networks can provide immigrants with the connections they need to thrive. Schools and daycares must be well-resourced to support diverse backgrounds, and multilingual services must beexpanded to ensure that families do not fall through the cracks due to language barriers.
A Call for Change
I know, as many foreigners do, that making Finland home comes with challenges that require real solutions.
• Employment discrimination must be tackled head-on, with policies that recognize international degrees, work experience, and the economic value that foreign professionals bring.
• Mental well-being and social inclusion must be prioritized, ensuring that no one feels invisible or isolated in a country they call home.
• Families—both Finnish and foreign—must have access to well-resourced schools, affordable healthcare, and community networks that strengthen their well-being.
The voices of immigrants, families, and communities must be heard. I am running in Finland’s Municipal and Regional Elections because I believe in building a stronger Espoo and Länsi-Uusimaa— where every resident, regardless of background, feels valued, supported, and included. This is our Finland. Let’s shape it together.