The iCount project, started in 2012, originally aimed to increase the voting turnout of third-country foreign residents (non-refugees) at the municipal elections of that year. While the project was a success in the capital area, a durable and meaningful increase in participation (both political and simply as being active in the society) can only be built on strong foundations – that is why the second phase of the iCount project (2013-summer 2014) focuses on providing information about participation to the society and politics, especially at the local level, in many different languages and many ways to various communities, in order to let immigrants be the lead protagonists of their own lives.
At Moniheli, we try our best to lend an ear to our members’ issues and dilemmas, and rely on our network to find a solution, connect people, or find someone who could have a solution if we don’t. Representing an estimated 5 000 people through our member associations, we strive to become a trusted partners to the Finnish authorities in order to bring to life immigrant-led integration projects. Their impulse comes from the grassroots, such as that of our peer support project, which was imagined and drafted by our Women’s Group. Only through awareness and information our customers can take control of their lives and enjoy fully their life in Finland.
The forums organised by the Qutomo project brought valuable insight and discussions about issues that we meet time and again in our work at Moniheli: work discrimination, the question of language, the different ways of women and men in many aspects of their daily lives, difficulties with the Finnish administration…
As a network organization with more than 55 member associations, we get to provide help and support not only to associations proper in the management of their statuses and activities, but also and prominently to individuals, as members of these associations, volunteers in our working groups and projects, and contacts in our network. Integration is at the core of our mission, and we are delving into the issue with our EU-funded iCount project.
Contact information:
Riitta Salin, Executive Director Julie Breton, Association Coordinator
+358 (0) 44 535 5722 +358 (0) 44 717 0225
riitta.salin(at)moniheli.fi toimisto(at)moniheli.fi
iCount Project Workers:
Polina Kopylova Adriana Saarialho
polina.kopylova(at)moniheli.fi adriana.saarialho(at)moniheli.fi
+358 (0) 44 770 0135 +358 (0) 44 775 4525