Why is this important to me?
When I moved to Turku, I noticed I was missing something I couldn’t quite put into words at first. I started to feel a longing for community. I come from a culture where togetherness and being part of a community are important. Even though I was born and raised in Finland, I’m still surprised again and again by how little community is emphasized here and how many people seem to long for it.
I was raised to share, to listen, and to gather with others. Maybe that’s why I felt the need to make space for that here as well.
Where did this idea come from?
I had been searching for a community in Turku for a long time, especially outside of universities and higher education institutions. Even though I’m not currently studying, I’m still involved in student circles in different ways.
That’s when the idea started to take shape, what if we created spaces where it would be as easy as possible for people to join in?
In the spring, the idea finally took flight when we started planning an event concept together with our board. I was happily surprised by how many others were excited about it too.
Here are a few examples of what we’ve already done.
Our first events
March – International Women’s day Workshop
Our first event was held on International Women’s Day in collaboration with UN Women. This day has always been important to me, and I wanted to highlight its origins: International Women’s Day began with the labor movement in the early 1900s, particularly with the 1917 women’s strike in the Soviet Union.
In our event, we reflected on the role of women then and now and wanted to remind people that the day isn’t just about flowers and chocolate, though those are nice as well.
April – Urban Gardening Workshop
In April, we hosted a gardening event in a university courtyard. The idea came from our board’s event coordinator. We wanted to give people the chance to start their own balcony or windowsill gardening. Participants learned which vegetables and herbs can be grown at home, which is especially relevant in today’s economy, where everything keeps getting more expensive.
To our surprise, many passersby stopped and joined in.
May – Tea and Multiculturalism
In May, we celebrated International Tea Day and the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development with a joint event in collaboration with Kirjakahvila and the Estonian Center. We offered teas from around the world and explored the tea cultures of different countries. The event sparked conversations and encounters the very things we aim for in all of our events.
Why low-threshold events?
We want to organize events that are truly accessible and community-centered. Here are four reasons why this matters:
1. Free and inclusive
Nowadays, almost everything comes with a price. Many young people and students are left out of events due to financial or social reasons. That’s why our events are always free and multilingual, at least in Finnish and English, and often in Swedish as well. Our board includes people who speak various languages, and we aim to reflect that.
2. A third place
A “third place” refers to a space that isn’t home or work/school, but where you can spend time comfortably and feel at ease. We need more of these spaces, especially for those of us who crave connection and lightness in everyday life.
3. A sober option
Not everyone drinks alcohol, and enjoying yourself shouldn’t depend on it. We want to create events where you can be yourself and still have fun without needing to drink. Personally, I rarely drink, and I don’t always enjoy being around intoxicated people. I know I’m not alone with this.
4. New people and new experiences
Our events bring together people who might not otherwise cross paths. You might discover a new hobby, an idea, or even a friend. These moments create something that feels natural, not forced but truly meaningful.
What’s next?
This summer, we plan to organize more events and invite our members to take part in designing what we do together. Our goal is to keep building warm, low-threshold, and safe spaces.
I hope these events can be a small answer to the loneliness and disconnection many of us feel.
You are warmly welcome, come just as you are.
Cristina Helmi Badoi
Chairperson of the UN Association of Turku