Country(ies):

Finland

Caisa International Cultural CentreIntercultural centre in Helsinki

Partners:Caisa International Cultural Centre

Funding Bodies:City of Helsinki (Cultural Office), European Social Fund

Project Description:The Caisa International Cultural Centre is located in the city centre of Helsinki and was opened in 1996. Its aim is to support the multicultural development of the city by promoting the interaction of people from different countries, providing information about various cultures to the general public and about Finnish society to immigrants. The cultural programme at the Caisa Centre is mainly organised by immigrant communities. The Centre also provides Finnish language courses and other educational courses free of charge (e.g. multicultural education and workshops for schools and kindergartens).The artistic programme includes activities such as: Indian dance performances, thematic film nights with movies from different countries, literary nights with readings of poetry and texts, etc.Caisa maintains an information data base ("Info Bank") with relevant information for immigrants about life in Finland, e.g. residence permits, accommodation, work, health, social services, culture etc. in 13 different languages. The section on "Culture and Leisure" provides a comprehensive overview of the most important cultural institutions, government policies and sports facilities.

Lessons to be Learned:The Caisa Centre provides a public space for interaction and creative expression involving immigrant communities and targeted to the local community. A recent evaluation of Caisa's work showed that Caisa has reached both immigrant communities and representatives of the dominant culture with successful practical results and that it has become a meeting place and a channel for making other cultures better known to the majority. It has contributed towards creating a more favourable public image of immigrants, thereby helping to reduce prejudice and discrimination. The evaluation report also showed that the association of immigrants cannot play their crucial role for the integration of immigrants without public support because they lack the required economic resources.

Target Groups:Immigrant communities in Helsinki, general public

Contact Details:Caisa International Cultural CentreMikonkatu 17 C / Vuorikatu 14 / PL 477100099 HelsinkiFinland

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Tel: +358 9 169 3897Fax: +358 9 169 38 85Email: caisa.tiedotus@hel.fi

Additional Resources:An evaluation of the Caisa Centre is part the report: The Immigration Policy of the City of Helsinki: Its Theory and Practice. It is available only in Finnish.

Submitted by / Source:Ritva Mitchell, CUPORE, Helsinki; Ilkka Heiskanen, EKVIT, Helsinki

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