Get Together Network

How can you manage the darkest months of the year? This is a topic we wanted to get back to after the positive feedback we received after last years webinar.

In the 2022 program psychotherapist Elina Pajunen from the Therapy Center Avara and special adiser Elina Viitasaari from Ostrobothnia Crisis Center Valo shared advise and tips on ways to promote your own wellbeing.

Sharing their personal experiences was Ivonne Carlos and Melissa Ferrari, who both have lived in Finland for some two years. Ivonne confessed being a person who likes staying at home and told about her new interest in taking care of plants. Melissa expressed liking the snow and outdoor activities also during winter. Melissa’s recommandation was also to find a new hobby in which you can improve and put up a goal to achive during the winter months.

Suitable winter clothing and the importance of using reflectors was also discussed – further tips here!

The evening ended with a relaxation exercise by Paulina Haavisto, HR planner at the City of Vaasa.

On 28.9 a group of over 60 people visited the Meteoria Söderfjärden visiting centre in the middle of the most beautiful meteorite crater in Finland.

Meteoria Söderfjärden in pictures

The Welcome to Vaasa lecture on 21.9, arranged by Alma, offered new inhabitants of the city interesting information about Vaasa and its services.

Welcome to Vaasa in pictures

On Midsummer week on Tuesday, we gathered for an evening at the Onkilahti Park for fun games, some dancing but above all, for meeting people.

Outdoor Summer Get Together 21.6 Vaasa – in pictures

The Spring Get Together on 11.5, opened by mayor Tomas Häyry, gathered people to try handicrafts, culture and dance workshops but above all, to meet new people. During the evening the Welcome Office 10-year long journey in the city was celebrated with a delicious raspberry cake!

Spring Get Together 11.5 Vaasa – in pictures

On the same day, Kokkola celebrated its first International Kokkola Day. The day included a seminar, a public lecture and guided walks in the old town Neristan. During the evening Get Together at the Welcome Office at the city library you could enjoy a fashion show and music performances.

On 15.2.2022 associations from different fields in Vaasa informed about the possibilities they offer to do voluntary work. The associations welcomed all interested to join their respective activities. When it comes to language requirements, it’s good to know some Finnish or Swedish, but you can get started in English.

An introduction to the theme  was presented by Virve Flinkkilä, the Director of Welfare at the City of Vaasa.

Presentations by the associations (pdf-files):

• Culture services City of Vaasa 15.2.2022 & Brochure on Culture Offerings in the City of Vaasa New brochure!
• Red Cross Introduction Österbotten 15.2.2022
• Red Cross Vaasa Finnish branch 15.2.2022
• Ritz presentation 15.2.2022
• Vaasa Food Aid presentation 15.2.2022
• Volunteering – Evangelical Lutheran Church in Vaasa 15.2.2022
• Folkhälsan – Associations and volunteers and information about activities in Österbotten (links to Folkhälsan’s website)

The guided walk in the city center of Vaasa which was arranged in January 2022, gathered some 45 people. The participants got to hear about the history of the city, about its inhabitants and about its buildings.

The event was highly appreciated and according to the feedback, it seemed to be the perfect way to get to know the city. Similar walks could therefore be a regularly upcoming event, eg. twice a year.

In December 2021 we started thinking about how the TCE project could be of assistance in creating a network and plan spare time activities for persons, who for different reasons have moved from abroad to the Vaasa region.

The invitation to the first meeting on Dec 2 at ALMA got a good respons. Present were a big number of interested people who gave their view on the matter and also commented the ideas by the others.

The second meeting was held just a couple of weeks later on Dec 16. A summary of ideas, including information on already existing services, was presented. The planning of activities for the Get Together Network for spring 2022 was then started on the basis of this material and in cooperation with the group.

How can you keep up your energy levels during autumn and winter season? We wanted to find answers to this in our webinar “How to Manage the Dark Season”.

Dietitian Katarina Mäkynen spoke about the importance of nutrition and exercise. Among many interesting issues, Katarina pointed out how regular meals, the use of exercise in your daily life and a good sleep routine can help you keep up your energy levels.

Quan Hoang, originally from Vietnam, and Pablo Cisneros Chavira, from Mexico, offered their own, personal advice on the subject. Having lived in Finland some years and having encountered the autumn and winter months, they mentioned the importance of a  positive frame of mind. Keeping active with friends and spening time eg. cooking, listening to music or watching films is also very helpful. When days are at their shortest, Pablo suggested a short walk outside during your lunch break, so that you are able to make use of the natural daylight.

The discussion also touched winter clothing, cycling during the winter and the importance of using a reflective items – more useful tips here!