Nature-based integration among immigrants in Kokkola region

The goal of the project is to find nature-based solutions among immigrants being in the risk of social exclusion by promoting social inclusion and supporting communality.

The project Nature-based integration among immigrants in Kokkola region will be implemented during 2021- 2023. The project is financed by European Social Fund and City of Kokkola.

The goal of the project is to find nature-based solutions among immigrants being in the risk of social exclusion by promoting social inclusion and supporting communality. The focus of the project is to make use of the unused potential of nature, since it has not been enough used at the societal level nor in the daily work of integration. Nature-based integration entails a process where the nature-based activities are co-designed with the immigrants.

There is extensive research confirming the comprehensive and overall positive health- and wellbeing effects on the physical, mental and social level of the human being. Nature-based activities decrease inequality and promotes social inclusion and empowerment. Moreover, these activities strengthen work- and functional abilities.

The aims of the project are:

Promote immigrants’ social inclusion in their own life and at the level of the local community

Promote immigrants’ work- and functional abilities

Support the development of the human-nature relation in the local physical and cultural environment

Strengthen the reciprocal learning in nature-based activities among associations and the target group, and assessment of the effectiveness of different parts of the activities and policy brief

Nature-based activities are co-designed with immigrants’ nature-based paths of social inclusion according to the themes above. These paths will include a safe and responsible way of being in the nature, and in taking care of their own wellbeing. The project will make possible to bring forth the human-nature relation from the immigrants’ old home country and support the development of this relation in the new, local environment. Moreover, an inventory and clarification of the possibilities for nature-based activities in the possible cooperation of associations and with immigrants will be made. Also, attention will be paid at possible obstacles from the viewpoint of immigrants and associations.

The results of the project will entail the development of working-life skills and working- and functional abilities of the immigrants. They will be encouraged to use the Finnish language and their teamwork skills will be enhanced. The human-nature relation of the immigrants will be strengthened and a new cultural relation will be built between local actors and immigrants while working together. Moreover, as a result of the project, actors who may make use of nature-based activities in the phase of initial integration and afterwards will be recognized.

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