Imagine finding yourself in a new, unfamiliar country – a place where you plan to live, study, work, and settle. You don’t know the language, the customs feel foreign, and the conditions are entirely different from what you’re used to. Where would you find help and support? Who would explain how things work?
At Mikkeli’s Integration Services on Raviradantie, Integration Coordinator Riitta Lappi is joined by Integration Advisors Ulla Karppanen, Enrique Tessieri, and Ksenia Tuominen, along with Integration Assistant Anastasia Paasonen. The mission is to support new residents in settling in Mikkeli and beginning their integration.
“Our clients include quota refugees, asylum seekers granted residence permits, and those receiving temporary protection – in particular, Ukrainians, who enter our services from reception centres once they receive their registered municipality of residence”, explains Riitta Lappi.
Integration services assist in the integration process by arranging refugee reception and helping newcomers find housing. They provide guidance on daily matters, enhance inclusion and well-being in cooperation with South Savo’s social and health services, perform initial assessments, and create integration plans. They also partner with third-sector organizations and volunteers.
“Our clients are multilingual residents of Mikkeli, regardless of background. When the full integration law goes into effect next year, we’ll provide low-threshold guidance and counseling services for all immigrants, covering everything from housing to accessing services – like navigating the school system, applying for daycare, and finding hobbies”, Riitta Lappi notes.
Expanding Work in integration
The services are set to expand, though Finland’s government plans to reduce municipal integration funding. Lappi emphasizes that integration is a broad, collective responsibility, regardless of budget constraints.
“Integration isn’t simply a one-size-fits-all training program; it’s about more than that. The main goal is for newcomers to build friendships, connect with locals, learn the language, gain employment, or become active community members.”
The five-person integration team currently serves over 700 clients. Regional retention remains one of the largest challenges.
“The biggest challenge is in getting people to stay here,” says Enrique Tessieri.
The aim of an internationally-minded Mikkeli is to ensure every resident has the opportunity for a good life and to foster a culturally diverse and inclusive environment.
Ksenia Tuominen expresses concern about the limited availability of Finnish language courses.
“In my opinion, it’s the biggest issue for our clients.”
Riitta Lappi and Integration Advisor Ulla Karppanen stress that inactivity and waiting are not beneficial for integration. Meaningful engagement helps keep motivation high – idle waiting does not.
“Waiting months for integration training is unacceptable. Starting next year, compulsory community orientation courses in migrants’ native languages will be introduced, covering Finland’s societal structure, how services work, and the roles of the state and municipality. It’s a comprehensive package that will soon be coordinated,” Lappi says.
Photo: Pihla Liukkonen