For people arriving in Espoo from Ukraine

Agency for Education's webpage for Ukrainian refugees(external link, opens in a new window) contains information about

• the benefits of attending Finnish early childhood education and care and education
• opportunities of participating in education and training for those who have a residence permit based on temporary protection
• how having a municipality of residence affects your child's early childhood education and care, pre-primary education, basic education and studying.

The activities in residents’ parks are open to all families.  

Once the family and child have been granted asylum, the child has the same right to early childhood education organised by the municipality as all other children who have a municipality of residence in Finland. 

Ukrainian children residing in Espoo will be assigned an early childhood education place within four months of submitting the application or within two weeks, if early childhood education is needed due to a sudden start of employment, studies or a course. 

The parent/guardian sends a separate certificate of the sudden need for early childhood education to the Early Childhood Education Service Guidance (e-mail address below). Otherwise, early childhood education is normally applied for by contacting the service guidance in order to receive more detailed instructions.

Pre-primary education is organised for a child who meets the criterion of residing in the municipality: children under temporary protection and asylum seekers who are entitled to basic and pre-primary education can participate in education. If a child can be considered to be residing in a municipality, he or she is entitled to education. The municipality does not have to be the child’s municipality of residence in order for him or her to be considered to reside there.

Service guidance to Finnish-language early childhood education (also provides service in English): 

+358 9 81631000, vaka.palveluohjaus@espoo.fi 

Postal address: P.O. Box 3125, FI-02070 City of Espoo (for sending forms, etc.) 

Telephone counselling: Mon, Tue, Wed and Fri 9:00–13:00 and Thu 13:00–16:00. 

Service guidance to Swedish-language early childhood education/Småbarnspedagogikens servicehandledning: 

+358 9 81627600, dagis@esbo.fi 

Postal address: P.O. Box 3125, FI-02070 City of Espoo (for sending forms, etc.) 

Telephone counselling: Mon, Wed 9:00–11:00 and 12:00–14:00, Tue 13:00–16:00, Fri 9:00–12:00 

Children arriving in Espoo from Ukraine will be assigned school places and they will be provided preparatory education(external link, opens in a new window) for basic education as are all other children residing in Espoo.  

Finnish-language basic education: Preparatory Education Coordinator at multicultural education services: Ilham Hamdouni, ilham.hamdouni@espoo.fi and Planner Päivi Kakko, paivi.kakko@espoo.fi.

Please contact the e-mail addresses above for guidance on how to apply for preparatory education. Applicants will also be interviewed in the order of enrolment. 

Swedish language basic education: Planner Anna Nordberg, +358 40 6507598, skolanmalan@esbo.fi.

Basic education for adults is organised by Omnia: info@omnia.fi.

Espoo has ten Finnish-language upper secondary schools and one Swedish-language upper secondary school. Both the Swedish-language upper secondary school (Mattlidens gymnasium) and one of the Finnish-language upper secondary schools (Etelä-Tapiolan lukio) offer the International Baccalaureate programme, where the language of instruction is English.  

For additional information on applying for studies, please contact: 
Jaakko Turpeinen, Head of Education 
Finnish-language upper secondary school education  
jaakko.turpeinen@espoo.fi, +358 46 8773903

Mia Reimars, Head of Administration/
Swedish-language education services 
mia.reimars@espoo.fi, +358 43 8268869

Vocational education, preparatory education for vocational education and upper secondary school education for adults is provided by Omnia: info@omnia.fi.

More information about Finnish Education system for Ukrainian refugees(external link, opens in a new window)

Omnia is a forerunner and a development center offering a wide range of opportunities.(external link, opens in a new window)

OSKE Omnia Skills Centre for Immigrants, MANU education for immigrant youth, literacy training, Finnish as a second language courses and workshop services: info@omnia.fi.

Ohjaamotalo provides support and assistance for various needs and life situations. They can help you with matters related to studying, career choice and job-seeking. Ohjaamotalo can also support you in matters related to livelihood, finances and housing, as well as well-being and recreational opportunities. They offer both individual guidance and targeted group activities.  

Youth workers Marjo Holmqvist and Kirsi Hartikainen.  

Starttipiste tel. +358 40 1267513, Mon and Fri 12:00–16:00 and Tue, Wed, Thu 10:00–16:00.  

In Finland, public libraries are open to all. You can come to the library and use many services even without a library card. You can get a library card for a year by showing your photo ID and giving your address in Finland. Read a Ukrainian brochure on Finnish libraries.(external link, opens in a new window)

• Oppening hours and contact information of Espoo libraries.(external link, opens in a new window)

Libraries offer not only books to borrow but also a wide range of facilities and activities, especially for children and young people. You can come to the library to study, work, engage in hobbies and just spend time. At the library, you can use a computer and many other devices, such as a sewing machine, and read newspapers and magazines. The library can help you find other city or state services.

Libraries organise a wide variety of events, which are free of charge and open to everyone.

Ukrainian-language literature has been ordered for Espoo libraries, and the Multilingual Library(external link, opens in a new window) in Pasila, Helsinki, is also acquiring books in Ukrainian.

Espoo organizes many events, some of them free of charge. The programme includes music, theatre, films, dance performances and children’s events. You can find all free entry cultural events at cultureespoo.fi. 

City of Espoo's swimming pools.

Outdoor exercise and sports facilities in Espoo. In addition, Espoo has many different recreation routes as well as nature trails.

Espoo has some 200 play parks, residents’ parks and playgrounds.

• List of playgrounds
• Playgrounds on the map(external link, opens in a new window)
• Resident's parks

• The Espoo Hobby Path will organise exciting, free-of-charge after-school activities at and near schools for pupils of grades 3–9. Some hobbies are also held remotely. You can participate in hobbies without any prior experience or specific skills.
• Exercise and sports activities for children, young people and families are organised in cooperation with sports clubs. The activities are mostly free of charge.