GOALS-activities
The Finnish Social and Health Organizations Assistance Center STEA is currently funding our GOALS activities.
The activity is a continuation of the previous GOALS project and the purpose of the activity is to promote the inclusion and two-way integration of young people and young adults with an immigrant background through individual support, hobby, volunteer and peer group activities, and networking.
All JoMoni operations are smoke-free and our activities follow safe space principles.
What is the Goals project?
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Activities that prevent exclusion and remove barriers to social participation for young people with asylum seekers, refugees and Russian backgrounds.
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Providing hobby, volunteer and educational opportunities, as well as guidance in job searches.
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Anti-racist work to create a safer everyday environment in North Karelia.
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Two-way integrating activities for the native population and people with an immigrant background.
Target groups
Residents of the North Karelia region
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young people aged 15-29 with an asylum seeker or refugee background, and
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young people of Russian background of the same age and
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Native Finns who are involved in hobbies and leisure activities
Project background
The need is linked to concerns about the well-being problems of asylum seekers, refugees and young people of Russian background and their weakened opportunities for integration into society.
Problems that predispose to marginalization accumulate especially among young people with a refugee background, who have problems related to different aspects of life, the most serious of which are increased substance use, crime and the risk of radicalization. When studying young people who have come to Finland alone, it has been found that the causes of their discomfort are primarily related to discriminatory practices, loneliness and inadequate services.
Problems are also related to the way national asylum and refugee policy is implemented: young people live in constant fear because obtaining a residence permit is uncertain and a continued residence permit may be denied after reaching adulthood. Lack of perspective takes away motivation to start planning one's own life, learn the language and increases problem behavior among young people. Belonging to groups and peer relationships, in turn, strengthen well-being.
Promeq results: The participants in the study reported being unable to work and being traumatized, having difficulty sleeping, experiencing intense fear, depression due to the absence of their family, and experiences of uselessness and failure. Some had previously experienced torture and been in combat situations. This shows that the problems of asylum seekers are often serious. Those working with them share the concern that mental health problems lead to suicidal and violent behavior.