Nature House Villa Elfvik introduces easy-to-read materials
Espoo’s Nature House Villa Elfvik has increased the accessibility of its services. The new materials written in easy Finnish help immigrants, people with intellectual disabilities and other groups who benefit from simplified language to explore Finnish nature.
Villa Elfvik’s new materials cover the Nature Sanctuary nature trail (0.7 km), the Väinö the Crow nature trail (0.8 km) and the Long Live Espoo exhibition. The materials can be used for example by groups and families, and they support both integration and understanding of biodiversity.
An easy Finnish version of the introduction to Villa Elfvik’s history and operations has been prepared for use by the staff, and the staff has received training in how to use easy Finnish. Visiting groups can now receive an introduction to the house in easy Finnish.
In recent years, Nature House Villa Elfvik has become a popular destination for immigrant integration groups and other special groups who have difficulty understanding and reading standard Finnish. The proportion of foreign-language speakers is also steadily increasing in Espoo’s schools, amounting to 36 % of new first-graders in autumn 2025.
Integration is important for Espoo
Espoo wants to be Finland’s top city for integration and Europe’s most sustainable city. Providing services in easy Finnish supports both the city’s values and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal emphasising the importance of access to the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
“We want to increase equality and bring Finnish nature closer to as many people as possible. Easy-to-read materials support nature-based integration and encourage people to explore nature,” says Planner Katri Luukkonen from Villa Elfvik.
Villa Elfvik’s easy-to-read materials were tested with three groups of immigrants of different ages. The nature trail materials in easy Finnish are now available to the public. Visitors will be able to visit the Long Live Espoo exhibition this autumn as Villa Elfvik reopens after renovation. The Nature House is located on the shore of Laajalahti and is easy to reach, for example by light rail.
Easy Finnish is easier to understand
The content, vocabulary and structure of easy Finnish are adapted to make the language easier to read and understand than standard Finnish. Easy Finnish is intended for people who have difficulties reading or understanding standard Finnish. The Finnish Centre for Easy Language (Selkokeskus) estimates that more than 10% of the population in Finland – between 650,000 and 750,000 people – benefit from materials produced in easy Finnish.
Villa Elfvik’s new easy-to-read materials have received the official Selko symbol granted by the Finnish Centre for Easy Language.
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