Childcare is provided to children while their parents take part in Cultural Orientation classes

Summary

Over the last three years IOM has carried out pre-arrival cultural orientation training for 1300 refugees over the age of 15. In the classes, IOM Helsinki, in close coordination with IOM offices in those countries where refugees are residing, provides refugees information on the practicalities of living in their new host country. As a result, Finland-bound refugees have factual and realistic expectations on their new lives in Finland. The training also assists them to become self-sustainable as early as possible, minimizes cultural shock, and helps refugees begin the integration process quickly after they arrive in Finland.

The programme has gradually developed in the course of implementation. It has continually disseminated information to relevant authorities about the cultures and backgrounds of various groups of refugees, and has responded to frequent requests and questions from municipalities and resettled refugees about the integration process. This so called “community orientation,” which responds to the information needs of social workers and officials in municipalities, has become an integral part of IOM’s programme.

• Finnish Ministry of Labour