FINLAND GUIDES SUPPORTING IMMIGRANTS

Finland Guides are volunteers trained by Finnish Refugee Council. They are here to support people who have moved to Finland, helping them feel at home and confident in their new surroundings.

You can ask a Finnish Guide for help with many things, like finding local services, or getting familiar with everyday life in Finland. You can submit a contact request yourself, or someone you trust can do it for you.

You can meet the volunteer once or for a three-month period. Meetings take place always in safe public places such as libraries or cafés.

SUBMITTING A CONTACT REQUEST

Please submit your contact request in advance, ideally 1–2 weeks before you would like to meet your Finnish Guide. Requests can be submitted in Finnish or English. A volunteer coordinator will review your request and forward it to a suitable volunteer.

Finding a volunteer may take some time, and sometimes a volunteer may not be available.

Please note that Finnish Guides cannot assist with residence permit applications, Kela forms, or other matters that require professional expertise and could have significant consequences for your life.

If you need professional support, please contact our Kurvi program.

When submitting a request, please provide the following information:

• What kind of support do you need? Describe it clearly.
• Where do you live and how old are you?
• When do you need help? Do you prefer a specific day of the week or time of day, or are you flexible?
• Which neighborhood or area would you like to meet in?
• Which language would you like to speak with the volunteer?
• Do you have any other requests? For example, preferences regarding the volunteer.