1.2. Participating and influencing the environment

Participating in the surroundings

Everyday life is expensive in Finland. However, you are able to do many things without money. For example:

• Libraries are free for charge and you can borrow books free. You can ask help from library employee to get books with your native language. There are also computers you can use free. You can consult library employee if you need in the use of the computer. Some libraries have f.e.x. sports equipment, which can be borrowed. Libraries often located at school too.
• Many museums don´t charge in certain days of the week.
• You can spend time also in shopping centers.
• Nature: There are many forests, parks and lakes where to swim and spend time free.
• You can walk and camp free in the forests. It is forbidden to trash. Trees and other plants should not be damaged.
• Multicultural centers: Many cities have places where to meet people from different cultures and languages. There you can spend time together with other people and have hobbies of different kinds as making handcraft, making food and studying. There will be able to get advice and counselling in different languages. This kind of place is Gloria in Jyväskylä. You find it: Matarankatu 6.

Learning possibilities

• A residence permit, Finnish language skills and money are needed in order to apply studying a degree.
• However, universities and universities of applied sciences organize so called Open University education that anyone can participate in. These studies are for charge. Community colleges organize different kind of general education, too, which are for charge. You will get more information about education in Chapter 4.
• Asylum seekers have the right to have the Finnish language education three hours minimum a week in a reception center according to Finnish immigration service recommendations.
• You can practice the Finnish language also at the multicultural centres or with volunteers. There are also possibilities to start a relationship with the language friends.
• It is important to start learning Finnish as early as possible.
• English is spoken in many places in Finland but everyday language at work and daily life is Finnish.

Social services

Social services mean

• An official support from the state and municipalities to the different crises and problems. These kind of problems in everyday life can occur for example in social relationships, housing, raising children or with the economic issues.
• Social services are offered to help in social issues such kind as difficulties in raising the child, difficulties in a marriage or having economic problems. Professionals in Finland often handle those challenges in everyday life. These professionals are social counsellors and social workers.
• A Social counsellors and/or a social worker could be found in reception centres too. They take care of social services of the asylum seekers. The family workers will help also with the problems of the childcare.
• Social services are arranged in emergency situations by municipalities and police if the problem concerns violence. In Jyväskylä there is Mobile that is open 24/7.

Asylum seekers

• Have a right to get reception services for necessary livelihood and care to receive such social welfare services that a social welfare professional assesses to be necessary (advice, guidance, concerning with social problems).
• Reception services are housing, a reception allowance, necessary social and health care, interpreter and translation services, possibility to work and studies.
• Have a right to have the reception services during the whole asylum application process.
• Meals can be arranged as the reception service too. However, the reception allowance is smaller if the meal is arranged every day by the reception center.
• Asylum seekers do not have a right for the family reunification. Family members have no right to have a residence permit for Finland on the ground of the family relationship. Family members need to make their own asylum application.
• Asylum seeker do not have the right for the allowances of National Insurance security (Kela) but he/she has the right to have the reception allowance.
• If an asylum seeker will get a residence permit, he/she has the same social security and services as any other resident.