International House Pori celebrates its 1st anniversary with an Open House Day and a new website
International House Pori offers diverse support for immigration and integration in multiple languages. Operating in the Teljäntori shopping centre, International House Pori is celebrating its first anniversary by hosting an open house afternoon on February 28. Additionally, its new website launches today, January 28, 2025.
The first year at Teljäntori has been busy. Every month, hundreds of new residents in Pori have received assistance with their integration. The services provided by International House Pori include guidance and advice related to work, studies, entrepreneurship, and leisure. Although organized by the City of Pori, International House Pori collaborates with dozens of regional partners. Regular services at the facility include a Kela representative, a housing advisor, and Fyffee financial counseling. Weekly multilingual guidance is available for customers in Russian, Arabic and Dari.
– We receive nearly 300 inquiries from different customers every month, so it has been a fast-paced start. We actively meet with international students and their families, work-related immigrants, and people granted international protection. Companies have also found us. Questions often concern work permits for employees and settling in the area. We’ve also supported new entrepreneurs in starting their businesses, says Niina Hyytinen, Director of International House Pori.
The new Act on the Promotion of Integration, effective January 1, 2025, has increased municipalities’ responsibilities. One of the tasks includes organizing the reception of quota refugee groups arriving in spring 2025, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary network. International House Pori’s integration specialists will also begin assessing service needs and preparing integration plans for non-jobseeking clients in Pori, Ulvila, Kokemäki, Harjavalta and Nakkila. Employment services for jobseekers are provided by municipalities and the Satakunta employment area.
On January 28, International House Pori website will open. The site is designed to support all immigrants and attract new residents to the area. It offers practical information about local services, studies, job searching, entrepreneurship, and international recruitment. The site is available in Finnish, English and Russian. Additionally, International House Pori’s social media channels on Facebook and Instagram share integration-related events, tips, and news. Besides Teljäntori, International House Pori also serves customers at Pori Leijona’s joint service point.
On Friday, February 28, International House Pori will host an open house afternoon for the public to explore its services and facilities. The event will take place at Teljäntori from 1PM to 3.30 PM, at Yrjönkatu 15 A, 5th floor.
– We warmly welcome everyone to get to know more about the international side of Pori, invites Hyytinen.
Photo: Integration specialists Juha-Matti Mäkinen, Toni Salikka and Susanna Gonzalez, and the Director Niina Hyytinen are some of the experts providing service on all things integration and international at the International House Pori.