The language café for the Kotona Savossa project began in December 2025. Participants had to register for the language café in advance. There were more registrations than the group could accommodate. In the end, 28 participants were accepted, although the initial plan was to accept only 20.
There has been a great need for the language café, and unfortunately we were unable to accept everyone who wanted to join the starting group. Learning the language is important in order to be able to take care of things, study, and then find employment. Some start from the basics, while others already have a better command of the language. Speaking the language is important, and the language café is aware of this. A big thank you to our integration volunteers for participating in the language cafés and teaching Finnish to people who have been granted temporary protection. Project workers also help and participate. Together we learn Finnish, and Finns may even learn a few words of Ukrainian!
As part of the project, the language café has printed Hauska tavata – a beginner's Finnish language learning material, one for each participant.
The language café, which began in December, meets on Tuesdays from 5 to 7 p.m., two to three times a month, and will continue until mid-May. The group at the language café is divided into two parts according to skill level.
This great need will be met in January with the launch of a second language café, where participants will learn the basics of Finnish. The group will have about 10 participants.
On language café evenings, there is a lively buzz of conversation in the club room. We learn how to pronounce a, e, and y. How do you conjugate I sit, you sit, he sits? We have sung Christmas carols with the integration mentors, in Finnish of course. Learning Finnish is not easy for Ukrainians, but we repeat and practice. The more advanced group is already at a higher level, knowing more words and able to talk about their hobbies and feelings. However, words with the letter y are challenging for learners.
Those who have been granted temporary protection have the desire and motivation to learn Finnish, because it is the key to coping with everyday life, a path to education, and a gateway to working life.
