Our learning path has made an impression on families who have moved to Finland

Amruta and her family moved to Finland in 2013. The family lived and worked in Estonia before but spent a month in Finland and fell in love. Soon, one of the parents was offered an opportunity to move to work in Finland through a Finnish employer, and the family excitedly moved to Espoo's Laajalahti. It was easy to get to know people through the workplace, and the language skills that were constantly developed on language courses gave Amruta the courage to chat with her neighbors in Finnish.

- We have always had very good neighbors. I think it's important to make friends with neighbors, it creates a sense of community. We support each other and take care of each other, describes Amruta.

A daughter was born to the family in 2015 and the child expanded the family’s community even more. During her kindergarten and later school years, daughter Ira has introduced her parents to the parents of her own friends. Integrating into a new culture required work, being active and an open mind, but it paid off. The family felt supported every step of the way.

- I have been impressed by the competence of both early childhood education and basic education staff. Our whole family has been supported and helped at every step. In early childhood education the child's sensitive periods were followed closely and for example, it was suggested that the kindergarten and home cooperate with potty training. When Ira applied to the school, we received important support in the process. The teachers are well trained and notice things in our child that we ourselves cannot see up close. It's valuable and I didn't even know to expect it, praises Amruta.

Ira studies at the Espoo International School in English and Finnish. She speaks Marathi with her parents and has own mother tongue instruction in Hindi at school because the language is written in the same way as Marathi. Ira has a keen interest in languages, ​​and she has now also started to study Spanish independently.

The family’s mother is an entrepreneur and the father travels a lot because of his work. In Amruta’s opinion, it is easy to balance family and work in Espoo. The family invests in leisured, screenless meals together and enjoys hobbies. Ira skis, swims and practices piano at The Espoo Music Institute. At home, Ira plays piano and her mother sings.

Both parents were born in India and notice the differences between South Asian and Finnish culture. South Asian culture is very goal-oriented, while Finnish culture takes into account one's own interest and its importance for learning.

- Ira loves regularity and structure. When we go to India, I notice that the Indian culture seems a bit all over the place to her. At school Ira follows the rules and makes sure that we parents also follow them at home, laughs Amruta.

The family's summer plans include camping in Central Finland and enjoying the Finnish summer. When the family is travelling, the family's daughter says she looks forward to returning home. For her, friends, life and home are in Espoo.

Emma's family moved from England to Finland in 2019 also after an interesting job. The family includes three children: Jessica, 13, Louisa, 10, and Alexander, 8. The middle child started preschool in Espoo a few weeks after the move and the oldest child started at Espoo International School. Mother Emma went to the Nalle club in the residents' park with the youngest and remembers that, in addition to new friends, she received valuable tips about mid-season dressing and proper rainwear.

Through the Finnish employer, the family was introduced to good networks and did not have to stay alone in Espoo. At school, Emma met other parents and joined a book club through a new friend. Now all the children in the family attend Espoo International School. They have friends not only from Finland, but also from Brazil, China and around the world.

Emma volunteers at the school and helps with recycling, for example weighing the school's organic waste. The school has the Eco-Schools certificate as proof for its continuous sustainable development work. In Espoo, Emma is also a disability support friend which means she assists disabled people to do meaningful activities in their free time.

- Getting around in Espoo is easy and safe. It's wonderful that we have the sea, nature, camping opportunities and a good cultural offering, available even during the same day. It's rare that you don't have to choose between them, in Espoo you can enjoy them all, Emma points out.

The family praises the moderate group sizes, the teachers' pedagogical skills and the good cooperation between home and school, starting from preschool. The teachers have become familiar in a family where several children have had the same teacher during their school years.

- The children have enjoyed the fact that there is freedom at school and the possibility to choose things according to their own interests. Louisa has chosen crafts and come home happy with all kinds of works made of wool. Jessica has chosen music and is in a band. They have also made music videos at school and applied and combined the skills they learned in different classes, Emma lists.

In Espoo in addition to his friends, Alexander appreciates outdoor playground equipment, sports and the opportunity to play in nature. The mother of the family, Emma, ​​believes that happiness in life also affect the ability to learn. If things are good, school also goes well, and this she has noticed watching her children.

It is uncommon for foreigners moving to Finland to choose Swedish as their language of integration, but Needu did just that, and is still happy with her decision 15 years later.

- The language was not the only factor that influenced the choice. When I arrived in Finland, I met many Swedish speakers and found myself very comfortable among the Swedish-speaking Finns. They are very friendly and respectful people, and I like their customs, Needu explains.

Needu is a nurse who came to Finland from India to work in the care industry. Spending the first few years in Finland in Vaasa, she studied and worked as a practical nurse. Later, she moved to the Helsinki metropolitan area and completed some further studies at Arcada University of Applied Sciences. She is currently working in Swedish-speaking senior services in Helsinki. Her husband, originally a chef, changed his career path and is now working as a lorry driver.

The family’s children, aged 18 months and five years, attend Alberga daghem day-care centre at Monikko school centre in Leppävaara. When Needu and her husband decided to place their children in Swedish-speaking early childhood education and care, their friends questioned the wisdom of the decision.

- They felt that the children should learn Finnish because it is the dominant language in Finland, but I think Swedish is an excellent choice, as now the children are learning three languages instead of two: Swedish, Finnish and English. They are smart kids, and I’m sure they will learn Finnish too. Besides, Finnish is also taught in Swedish-speaking schools, Needu points out.

Needu and her family are satisfied with the day-care centre.

- Taking the children to the day-care centre feels safe. The staff are helpful and flexible. They notice and understand the children’s emotions, and even if one of them is sad when we arrive at the day-care centre in the morning, I know that they are in safe hands and will be comforted, she says.

Needu is not concerned about her children’s future educational and employment prospects even though they have integrated into the minority language.

- You can study and work in Swedish in Finland if you want, Needu says.