The Finnish Refugee Council is an independent non-governmental organization. It’s most important tasks are to carry out refugee work in Finland and abroad, and to provide information, arrange training and schooling, and raise funds. Presently the institution runs a project called Kotilo. The aim of this project is to better the rapport between the Finnish indigene and the ethnic minorities. Also promoting the standard of living among immigrants and people native Finnish origin and prevent conflict within the neighborhood. The project aims also include developing a system of guidance for residents of multicultural backgrounds. For more information regarding this project click on the following link.

CAISA is an international cultural centre established in the centre of Helsinki. Its objective is to support the development of a multicultural city by promoting interaction between people from different countries, encouraging the independent and original practice of new ethnic minority cultures whilst integrating them into a Finnish society and giving out information on Finland. The Institution also organizes different concerts e.g. food festivals, exhibitions, seminars, courses, clubs and its own singing competition the our vision Singing Contest

SOS Keskus is a center that helps foreigners and their family members living in Finland in different crisis of life. The center serves adult clients. Help is short-term therapeutic conversation help. A client can tell about his / her own life situation in his / her mother tongue with the help of an interpreter, or in English, Finnish or Swedish. The principle of the center is to give help as soon and flexibly as possible. You can also get help anonymously. The help is cost-free for the client. Some of the problems that are dealt in the center are difficulties adapting to new culture, marital relationship problems, sudden losses, accidents, violence, mental health problems, and traumatic experiences. The services offered by the center consist of phone line, crisis therapy, rehabilitation group, car service.

Red Cross The Finnish Red Cross is a voluntary social services aimed at preventing different forms of social exclusion. The activities of the Finnish Red Cross focus on supporting the integration of immigrants and promoting tolerance within the Finnish society. The institute has two reception centre’s and is also prepared to organize the emergency reception of large groups of unexpectedly arriving asylum seekers. The institution responsibilities also include practical arrangements for family reunification, receiving quota refugees at the airport and tracing work

The Ombudsman for Minorities is an institution with a task of advancing the status and legal protection of ethnic minorities and foreigners as well as equality, non-discrimination and good ethnic relations in Finland. You can contact the Ombudsman for Minorities if you have experience or observed ethnic or racial discrimination within the Finnish society. For further information concerning the institution, click on the following link http://www.vahemmistovaltuutettu.fi To contact the institution Pho No (09) 160 43 444 (weekdays between 9.00 and 15.00).

The international evangelical church is situated in Helsinki (Ruoholahdenkatu 16). Although the institute is a church but it provides possibilities for foreigners to learn Finnish, English, some basic skills like baking, using computers etc. The church welcomes all foreign citizens irrespective of religion, age, gender and ethnic background. The program is aimed at integrating immigrants into the Finnish society.

Monika Naiset is a service for immigrant women and children who experienced violence at home: The objectives of the association are mainly to improve the status of immigrant women and children in Finland and let them become aware of their rights. In addition the service also advocate decision-makers at the local and national level through propositions and statement; propose training for workers in the multicultural field; publish material concerning domestic violence in the immigrant world . Monika Naiset aims to support immigrant women and immigrant women association to let their voice heard at the societal level and therefore works towards a better integration of immigrant women in the Finnish society. Monika Naiset also offers a space where immigrant women can go and get counseling, information about their rights or about how things work in Finland

The Hakunila International Organization (Hakunilan kansainvälinen yhdistys in Finnish) was established in 1998. The organization objective is to promote the awareness and knowledge of the different cultures and advance multicultural activities in the Finland. The organization also aims for overall tolerance in Finland by applying preventive and anti-racist policies. Gradually the organization has expanded its operations and has become the supportive organization for immigrants. Hakunila International Organization's new information and help desk works to help all foreigners living in Hakunila and outside Hakunila area. One can visit us if you want information and counseling in matters such as: social issues, study, courses, work matters, crises and other problems. You may also come to talk for other reason. http://www.hakunila.org/english/index.html

Multicultural Association Familia Club ry is politically and religiously unaligned association whose main purpose is to offer a framework for multicultural interaction. The idea is to promote co-operation and tolerance between immigrants and the Finnish. The association also aims to support the native languages and cultures of the immigrants and to increase their participation in the Finnish society. Familia Club provides support and facilities for different activities. They also organizes Finnish language courses for immigrants in other to facilitate their integration to the Finnish society. http://www.familiaclub.fi/englanti/presentation.htm

The Bridge Project is an integration project from the Finland-Swedish information- and cultural centre Luckan of the capital region, Finland. The Goal of the project is to better the integration of immigrants into Finnish - and especially Finland-Swedish society - functional, easy and smooth. This website http://www.luckan.fi/bridge/indexEN.htm contains a guide to work, education and networks well needed for a productive start within the Finnish society.

IOM is an inter-governmental organization that works with migrants, governments, NGOs, and international organizations to address today’s multifarious migration challenges. IOM’s work is conducted through projects that endeavor to touch on every aspect of the Organization’s mandate and are the most tangible means of assisting migrants and governments.
With more than 280 field locations in over 120 countries and 120 Member States, IOM's activities focus on the following areas of migration management:

* Migration and development

* Facilitating migration

* Regulating migration
   
* Managing the effects of forced migration

The office of the organization is situated in Unioninkatu 13, 6th floor. P.O. Box 851. FIN-00101 Helsinki, FinlandTel. +358-9-684-1150. http://iom.fi/About


The following institutions, organizations or Services are situated outside the Helsinki region


Tampere City

Cultural Centre Unipoint is organized in the city of Tampere, it is located in the Old Library building, is in charge of many services for immigrants. Unipoint organises courses in different languages and cultures, seminars, education and vocational training as well as discussions, theme days and other events. Many of the activities are realized in co-operation with other organizations involved in multicultural work in Tampere

Activities include:

Counseling, Multicultural events throughout the year, Various courses, for example, Finnish language courses, Premises and equipment intended to immigrants’ associations meetings

Internet access, TV, games, newspapers, magazines, Opportunities for partake in voluntary work, for instance, in organizing courses, Meeting new friends from all over the world.

Contact: unipoint@tampere.fi For more information visit http://www.tampere.fi/english/culture/unipoint/index.html

Lahti

The ALIPI project is a project dedicated to immigrants in the city of Lahti and has been open since the 27th of May 2008. The basic idea is to provide a service point that will work alongside the services provided by the health and social affairs organizations in the city of Lahti. The ALIPI project, to be implemented between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2011, and consists of four areas: -

- Work training that offers guidance and introduction to Finnish working culture to help the client to find employment

- Service guidance through which immigrants, authorities, and other parties can get information and guidance about services, rights, duties, and everyday issues

- Specialist services that provide expert support and training to co-operating parties

- Provincial co-operation in which an expert network addressing immigration issues, covering the entire Päijät-Häme province, will be created

The ALIPI project will serve all immigrants in the Päijät-Häme.

For more information, please contact:

City of Lahti, Health and Social Affairs, Special Social Services
ALIPI project
P.O. Box 116, 15101 LAHTI, Finland
Fax: +358 (0)3 818 3197
Visiting address: Vapaudenkatu 1