The city of Turku (about 182,000 inhabitants) is located on the southwest coast of Finland. The City of Turku has been preparing its 2029 Strategic Plan since last spring, in collaboration with residents and other interest groups. Creating a multicultural environment has been recognized as a special strength, as cooperation and integration are basic civic cornerstones both nationally and internationally. 9.2% of Turku 's population speak languages other than Finnish or Swedish. According to the strategy citizens should use their knowledge and contacts to develop both the workplace and the city. Co-operation of this kind is not only appreciated by citizens, but creative and is encouraged as a recommended way to work.
Developing reading and media skills (including various kinds of reading) are the top priority for Turku City Library. As the world is becoming smaller with the Internet and globalization, good communication between other cultures and proficiency in other languages are essential for everyone. The way we communicate has changed with advances in technology and multimedia. While people still use text for communication, technology now allows us to also use voice, sounds, pictures and film to communicate. The use of social media for communication encourages simple and short expression.
Libraries have numerous tasks and service opportunities in the use of new media and in supporting new literacy skills. Our work as librarians is transforming “from sitting and waiting to walking and talking” (personal communication, Schultz ,2014). An example of a media literacy project is the Turku City Library’s involvement in the Reading Rage Project. The library has been one of the pilots in the project, which has been financed by The Ministries of Education and Culture, while the faculties of Arts and Education at the University of Oulu are carrying out a three-year-project (2012-2015). The target group consists of children and youngsters from 6 to 16 years, teachers, librarians and parents. A network of operators and methods of operation are currently being created when the project is being tested. The school year 2014- 2015 will be a theme year for multi-literacy. In 2015 the the project will be evaluated and necessary improvements made.
Turku City Library and the Turku Women ́s Centre cooperate in supporting Finnish language learning and literacy skills by applying a variety of creative methods. The library provides spaces, assistance and know-how for participants so they can access the collections and acquire library skills. Proposals for funding have been a collaborative effort and participants from the Women’s Centre brought their exhibitions to the library and provided new perspectives to learning for the library staff.
Developing reading and media skills (including various kinds of reading) are the top priority for Turku City Library. As the world is becoming smaller with the Internet and globalization, good communication between other cultures and proficiency in other languages are essential for everyone. The way we communicate has changed with advances in technology and multimedia. While people still use text for communication, technology now allows us to also use voice, sounds, pictures and film to communicate. The use of social media for communication encourages simple and short expression.
Libraries have numerous tasks and service opportunities in the use of new media and in supporting new literacy skills. Our work as librarians is transforming “from sitting and waiting to walking and talking” (personal communication, Schultz ,2014). An example of a media literacy project is the Turku City Library’s involvement in the Reading Rage Project. The library has been one of the pilots in the project, which has been financed by The Ministries of Education and Culture, while the faculties of Arts and Education at the University of Oulu are carrying out a three-year-project (2012-2015). The target group consists of children and youngsters from 6 to 16 years, teachers, librarians and parents. A network of operators and methods of operation are currently being created when the project is being tested. The school year 2014- 2015 will be a theme year for multi-literacy. In 2015 the the project will be evaluated and necessary improvements made.
Turku City Library and the Turku Women ́s Centre cooperate in supporting Finnish language learning and literacy skills by applying a variety of creative methods. The library provides spaces, assistance and know-how for participants so they can access the collections and acquire library skills. Proposals for funding have been a collaborative effort and participants from the Women’s Centre brought their exhibitions to the library and provided new perspectives to learning for the library staff.
As part of the Turku City Library's services Turku Women's Centre organizes creative literacy groups in order to encourage women to activate themselves to voluntary activities.
In colaboration with different kind of authorities Turku Women's Centre also supports and help women and families who seek for help. Often, the situation has escalated and women / girls are forced to flee from their homes.
In addition, Women´s Centre help and support asylum seekers cases involving culture-related threats and distribute information about human trafficking.
In colaboration with different kind of authorities Turku Women's Centre also supports and help women and families who seek for help. Often, the situation has escalated and women / girls are forced to flee from their homes.
In addition, Women´s Centre help and support asylum seekers cases involving culture-related threats and distribute information about human trafficking.
Turku Women’s centre has been doing multicultural work in the Turku area since 1994. The Centre assists immigrant women and their families in legal matters and helps them learn the language and understand Finnish culture. The Centre organizes courses which support the learning of Finnish and how to integrate into Finnish society. The teaching sessions are organized in small groups. In addition to Finnish language and culture there are computer and social media studies. The participants are encouraged to take part in cooperative learning. Efforts are also made to improve the learners’ self-esteem and motivation. Each participant has an opportunity to bring her special skills (sometimes hidden) to benefit the whole group. The basic idea is that each participant is responsible for her own learning as well as that of the whole group.
Turku Women's Center - Organization
Turku Women's Centre is a network which works to increase people's mental well-being and cohesion. We want to develop activities that facilitate encountering people, especially those with different languages and different cultural backgrounds.
We also want to provide all people with equal opportunities to act in today's society.
In this purpose within our activities we aim to support the learning of skills needed in today's society.
Our work is always aiming for the future. Goal-oriented action is an instrument of change in our work. We are looking for good points, conditions of success and opportunities. Within our activities, we use participatory and empowering methods.
With these methods we aim to provide everyone with stronger positive self-image.
In our action it is important to become open for new things that influence today's society: advancements in technologies, global connections, securing sustainable development and in addition to humans, also well-being of nature.
At the moment, the center of activities is the identification of methods to facilitate communication between people. We are doing this work together with the Turku City Library, as well as with our national and international network.
Types of action / groups 2017
Turku Women's Centre is a network which works to increase people's mental well-being and cohesion. We want to develop activities that facilitate encountering people, especially those with different languages and different cultural backgrounds.
We also want to provide all people with equal opportunities to act in today's society.
In this purpose within our activities we aim to support the learning of skills needed in today's society.
Our work is always aiming for the future. Goal-oriented action is an instrument of change in our work. We are looking for good points, conditions of success and opportunities. Within our activities, we use participatory and empowering methods.
With these methods we aim to provide everyone with stronger positive self-image.
In our action it is important to become open for new things that influence today's society: advancements in technologies, global connections, securing sustainable development and in addition to humans, also well-being of nature.
At the moment, the center of activities is the identification of methods to facilitate communication between people. We are doing this work together with the Turku City Library, as well as with our national and international network.
Types of action / groups 2017
- Nordplus Adult 2017-2018 - application deadline 1.3.2017 (Cooperation with libraries and organization in Nordic and Baltic countries).
- Today together - Creative, international and multilingual actions for adults and children. (Cooperation: Libraries of Tallinn and Valmiera together).
- Skype- Reading group, from your armchair to the world (Cooperation: Finns abroad, in Sweden, in Spain etc.).
- Everybody´s common surroundings - The development of material for supporting immigrants' language learning. (Cooperation: Visio - The Green Cultural Association and partners).
- in the middle of everything - phenomenons of our time in library.
- Supporting asylum seekers - (Cooperation: Churches of Turku and Pori, Library of Espoo).
MORE INFORMATION:
Creative Literacy - Luova lukutaito - in Turku, Finland/
Raija Ala-Lipasti, tel. +45 1339166
Susanna Kolehmainen, tel. +40 3513040
e- mail: creativeliteracyturku@gmail.com
