Growing together – supporting integration and school success
The integration of immigrant families and the school success of their children are crucial for the future of society as a whole. Setlementti Puijola’s Growing Together project has been launched in Kuopio to provide new forms of support for immigrant families and local schools. The project is funded by the European Union’s AMIF fund (Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund) and is implemented in close collaboration with the City of Kuopio’s Growth and Learning Services.
Kuopio is more multicultural than ever before, with residents representing around 100 different nationalities. Increased immigration is also reflected in the city’s basic education system: the number of foreign-language students has risen by approximately 3% over the past three years. In autumn 2024, Kuopio’s basic education will include around 950 foreign-language students, approximately 170 of whom will be in preparatory education. During the 2024–2025 school year, ten preparatory classes will operate across four schools.
Currently, a major challenge in Kuopio’s education system is that many immigrant parents lack sufficient knowledge of how the Finnish school system works—such as compulsory education, transitions between school levels, or the parent’s role in supporting their child’s learning. This gap leads to misunderstandings, complicates teachers’ work, and impacts students’ ability to succeed. Additionally, immigrant students often face racism, discrimination, and feelings of exclusion within the school community, which can negatively affect their social well-being and academic performance. These concerns were highlighted in the 2023 survey by Finland’s Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations (ETNO).
As Finnish society and schools become more diverse, new approaches to home-school collaboration are needed. This project addresses the challenge by creating a new operational model that strengthens cooperation between immigrant families, schools, and regional welfare services. A community instructor is placed in schools to act as a bridge between families, schools, and support services. The project also organizes weekly Perhekerho (family clubs), where children in preparatory education and their families meet around various themes.
Through the practices developed in the project, immigrant families’ participation in the school environment will grow, parenting skills will be strengthened, and families’ commitment to their children’s education will deepen. This directly supports the well-being, learning, and academic success of children and youth. At the same time, cultural competence in schools and among welfare professionals improves, making services more immigrant-friendly. The project also helps identify student well-being and learning challenges earlier and directs support more effectively and at the right time.
The project will also produce accessible, easy-to-understand materials about the Finnish school system and home-school collaboration. These materials are designed to be culturally sensitive and based on the needs of the target audience. The aim is to provide families with clear information even before a child begins school, and throughout their educational journey.
Contact us:
Jenni Karhunen, Project Coordinator
+358 44 767 5181 | jenni.karhunen@puijola.net
Delia Chinta, Community Instructor
+358 44 354 8515 | delia.chinta@puijola.net
