Multicultural activities and immigration work in Lapland

Everyone is welcome to volunteer in the Red Cross

In the Red Cross people of different languages and backgrounds can volunteer in all forms of activity. The main thing is the desire to help and their personal interest. In Lapland, people with mother tongues can volunteer as volunteer friends, in a first aid group, in the food aid program or as a supporter of integration, for example. In particular, the International Club can serve as a low-threshold place for those practicing Finnish to start volunteering.

Sign up as a volunteer and make your volunteer profile here!

Help and meeting places

In Red Cross group and club activities, immigrants get to know Lappish life and community and to be part of them. In Rovaniemi, for example, the International Club is a low-threshold meeting place for people from different backgrounds. There you get to know people and spend time together doing things you enjoy. Group activities are also carried out in Kemijärvi and Tornio. If you are interested in organizing group activities, such as language clubs, ask your nearest local Red Cross branch or the Red Cross district employee for more information.

Immigrants who experience loneliness and isolation can apply for a Red Cross friend and thus become part of the community. Read more about diverse friend activities here.

Supporting quota refugees

In Lapland, Red Cross volunteers support local authorities in the reception and integration work of quota refugees, for example through Everyday Help activity. In the Everyday Help group, volunteers help newly arrived quota refugees to settle in their new home country and hometown. For example, the group can help them to get acquainted with convenience stores and the practices of living in an apartment building. The Everyday Help group can also support asylum seekers. 

Supporting asylum seekers

Asylum seekers are clients of reception centers who are waiting for the decision of the Finnish Immigration Service on their asylum application. In Lapland, reception centers are located in three towns: Kemi, Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi. There is an active Red Cross local branch in all of them.

As a volunteer, you get to support the everyday life and participation possibilities of the asylum seekers, for example, in club activities or as a volunteer friend for an asylum seeker. In addition, reception centers occasionally ask volunteers to help with individual tasks, such as making starter kits or furnishing apartments.

Supporting undocumented immigrants

The main responsibility for helping undocumented immigrants lies with the authorities. In accordance with its basic mission, the Red Cross supports the most vulnerable and supports the authorities also in helping undocumented immigrants. If you are interested in helping undocumented immigrants, contact the Red Cross district employee.

Work against discrimination and racism

Advocacy work is also a form of volunteering. The Red Cross works for humanity and distributes information about refugees. For example, volunteers may give in a Red Cross refugee tent presentation on a school visit.

We challenge everyone to act against racism and discrimination and to promote a diverse society also in Lapland. The Red Cross carries out year-round equality work in the form of school visits, for example, and coordinates an anti-racism campaign in the area in March each year.

Follow the Facebook page of Lapland Anti-Racism Week.

Follow the Instagram account of Lapland Anti-Racism Week.

Trainings

Basic trainings for volunteers in multicultural activities and integration support includes Diversity in volunteering and Support for integration courses. You can ask the Red Cross district employee about  task-specific trainings.

You can find the trainings on the volunteers' OMA website by searching for the activity ‘immigrant support' and the type 'Courses and training'.

Ask for more information