Espoo strengthens its Swedish-language integration path
The City of Espoo wants to promote the integration of immigrants in Swedish. In addition to the Espoo Story, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government Programme also encourages this. The government’s goal is for about 5–10% of immigrants to integrate in Swedish.
Information on Swedish-language services for clients, employees and stakeholders
We want to ensure that clients, professionals working with clients, and stakeholders have good access to information about integration opportunities and various services in Swedish. For this reason, the city established a completely new position of service coordinator in 2025. The role includes describing the Swedish-language integration service paths in Espoo and the capital region. In addition, the service coordinator actively participates in various Swedish-language integration networks.
The City Council has also granted an additional EUR 10,000 in funding for Swedish-language integration guidance services. Espoo offers guidance services to immigrants who register as clients of Employment Services. Clients receive information about integration in Finland and about choosing their integration language (Finnish or Swedish). We also provide information about Swedish-language early childhood education, schools, studies and workplaces. Guidance services are provided in cooperation with Luckan rf. We also produce materials to support guidance work.
In the City of Espoo’s general guidance service for immigrants, Hello Espoo Info, we provide guidance in Swedish and about Swedish-language options. Luckan rf is also a partner in this service. Espoo residents can also make use of Luckan’s guidance services at the organisation’s office in Helsinki.
Children’s integration largely takes place in local schools or day care centres. Swedish Education and Cultural Services provides information on Swedish-language early childhood education and schools. Ohjaamo offers support for young people in Swedish. At Ohjaamo, young people can get help with matters related to work, education and everyday life.
Language study opportunities and support for employment
Esbo Arbis offers Swedish language courses at different levels for Espoo residents. Arbis is also a place where residents can participate in a wide range of courses and become part of a community. These activities give immigrants the opportunity to practise Swedish in everyday situations.
Language cafés are another informal way to learn and develop one’s language skills. In Espoo, libraries organise language cafés in Finnish, but there are currently no language clubs in Swedish. However, we are always looking for partners and volunteers to run a language café in Swedish! If you are interested in this kind of collaboration, please feel free to contact Service Coordinator Sofia Svahnström.
The nearest Swedish language cafés are held in Kauniainen and Helsinki.
- Kauniainen Library(external link, opens in a new window)
- Helsinki Central Library Oodi(external link, opens in a new window)
- Kamppi, Helsinki(external link, opens in a new window)
Immigrant jobseekers often study the language as part of their integration training, which aims to improve their employment prospects and help them integrate into society. Helsingfors Arbis organises Swedish-language integration training in the capital region, to which Espoo Employment Services can refer their own clients. The training courses start 2–3 times a year and are offered at different language proficiency levels. A new development is that from the beginning of 2026, Swedish-language integration training is classified as labour market training, whereas previously it was classified as self-motivated studies.
Koto-Espoo, which provides integration services for Espoo residents who are outside the labour force (such as stay-at-home parents), also offers opportunities for Swedish studies. Koto-Espoo clients can choose to study Swedish instead of Finnish during their parental leave. They can participate in Esbo Arbis courses free of charge. Koto-Espoo also provides guidance in Swedish for its clients.
In addition, the City of Espoo is a partner in the Jobba för integration project led by the City of Helsinki. The aim of the project is to develop the Swedish-language integration path in the capital region and to identify employers’ needs for Swedish-speaking employees. The project helps us improve cooperation between municipalities in the capital region and address identified development needs together.
Enquiries
Sofia Svahnström, Service Coordinator