What does integration mean? - yhteiskuntaorientaatio.fi
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Mitä kotoutuminen tarkoittaa - tiivistelmä
What does integration mean?
Integration means that you get used to your new home country. You learn the language, find a job or a place to study and your own place in the society.
When a person moves to a new country, it takes time to get used to the new environment, customs, and culture. They may be different from the previous home country. Society’s services and the way it functions may feel strange.
Integration requires proactive approach from the immigrant. For example, learning a language and finding work require a lot of your own effort. Integrated people feel that they've found their place in the Finnish society and they contribute to the society in their own ways.
Kotoutuminen - Mitä kotoutuminen tarkoittaa? en
Integration consists of many things
When you move to a new country, the habits of the new culture and the way the society works may seem strange. Interaction between people may Integration means, for example, that a person learns the language of the country well enough. Then they will be able to build social relationships, study or work in this language.
Finland has two national languages, Finnish and Swedish. This means, among other things, that the education system in Finland is both in Finnish and Swedish, and Swedish speakers are entitled to public services in Swedish. Finnish is the most widely used language in the country, but Swedish is used in coastal regions and bilingual municipalities. Many services can be available in English, but English-speaking jobs are usually only available in certain fields.
The video below gives you some tips on how to start learning the language.
Video: THL Miten oppia uusi kieli – How to learn a new language (youtube.com) Video in Finnish, subtitles available in English, Arabic, Dari, Ukrainian, Russian, Congo Swahili
Work is both means and ends of integration
When discussing integration in Finland, the importance of getting a job is often emphasized. On the one hand, work is considered to be an objective of integration. On the other hand, working makes integration easier. Through work, people become attached to society and get to know other people. Working improves your financial situation. Studying also promote integration, and it's easier to find work if you have an education.
Social networks promote well-being and integration
An important part of integration is getting to know other people living in Finland. Social networks are important for well-being. It may be useful to get to know other immigrants, as they can offer peer support for integration.
It is also important to try to establish relationships with people who speak Finnish or Swedish. It helps with learning the language and getting to know the Finnish culture. Sometimes people may try to change the language into English, but you can tell them that you would like to practise speaking Finnish or Swedish.
Inclusion means finding your place in society
Integration also means that immigrants participate in the activities of society in their own ways, and feel included in Finnish society. Inclusion means that people are able to influence their own life and the things that matter to them in their community and environment. They can be involved in joint action and decision-making if they so wish.
To integrate, immigrants need to know Finnish society and culture. It is important that people understand their rights and obligations in Finland. It is also good to know the history of Finland and know what kinds of laws and customs exist in Finland and why.
Integration also means seeing Finland as an important part of your life and future and feeling a sense of belonging. When integrated, you have found your place in society and social networks in Finland. If you so wish, you can be active in your own communities or involved in politics, for example.
The receptiveness of the surrounding society also plays a role in creating an experience of inclusion.
What factors affect integration?
- Reason for moving: Why did a person move to Finland? It is one thing to flee from war, persecution, or famine, for example, and quite another to move to Finland to work or to live with a spouse.
- Language skills and contacts: Finding friends and work can take time if you do not know the languages commonly spoken in Finland and do not know any locals.
- Economic and social situation: Coming to Finland as a refugee means that family members, property, and home may be lost. You need to rebuild your whole life. This can be difficult, especially if the immigrant has traumatic experiences of war or escape.
- Health and family: If you are not healthy or have to live apart from your family, building a new life can be difficult. Support and help can be obtained, for example, from a health centre, associations, or social services.
- Future plans: If you have a clear intention to stay in Finland permanently or for a long time, you will probably be more motivated to integrate, compared to someone who only plans to stay for a year or two in Finland, or if their future is uncertain.
Receptiveness of the society is a prerequisite for integration
Integration into Finland requires the recently immigrated people to adapt, and to acquire new knowledge and skills. At the same time, those who already live in Finland must adapt, learn and examine their own attitudes. It is a question of so-called two-way integration and receptiveness of society.
Immigration to Finland was uncommon for a long time, and there still are fewer immigrated people living in Finland than in many other Western European countries. Unfortunately, not everyone in Finland is welcoming towards newcomers, and some may have prejudices against immigration.
Promoting receptivity means, for example, identifying and actively dismantling the unequal structures of society. This will help to ensure that everyone has effective equal opportunities to participate in society. Recognizing and dismantling racism, for example, is therefore an important part of supporting two-way integration.
Mitä kotoutuminen tarkoittaa - Keskustelukysymykset
Discussion questions
- When do you think people are integrated into Finland?
- How can a person promote their own integration?
- What do you think two-way integration means?
- What do you wish for your life in Finland?