George Soros Open Society Foundations has produced a report (one of many) from which they conclude for the media that everything is hunky-dory for Somalis in Helsinki. The Somalis might(?) be happy, but some of the native Finns aren’t!
You know this is how people like Soros operate, they do studies and make conclusions for the media and the media laps it up. And, by doing such media spin they can shame other cities/countries that aren’t so “welcoming” into doing Soros’ bidding—open their borders If you go to the study, here, it doesn’t look like everything is copacetic with the growing Somali population of Helsinki.
Here is the happy news from Finnbay (emphasis is mine):
(FINNBAY) – Helsinki, 25 November 2013. According to the latest report published by the Open Society Foundations, Somalis in Helsinki enjoy a good life in Helsinki due to numerous policy initiations from the Helsinki City.
Somalis in Helsinki is part of a seven city research series, Somalis in European Cities, which examines the realities of people from Somali backgrounds in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Malmo, Leicester, London, and Oslo. In Helsinki, the research was conducted by the Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki.
From Buffalo to Helsinki they are all falling for this economic benefit argument that uneducated, unemployable, impoverished third-worlders are going to bring an economic boom to a city.
“Immigrant Population growth is the key to Helsinki and the entire population of the metropolitan area. The City of Helsinki wants to be a model city with its work on anti-discrimination, so we must have zero tolerance for any sorts of discrimination against the Somali community and others, “said Mayor of Helsinki Jussi Pajunen.
The report highlights the experiences of Somalis living in Helsinki, focusing on five areas of local policy and the broader themes of identity, belonging and interaction. Through qualitative research methods, including interviews with key stakeholders at the city and national level and focus group discussions with Somali residents, conducted from the beginning of December 2012 through to the end of February 2013.
“Education and employment are the core of things for Somilis to enjoy living in Helsinki in order for them to participate as an active and equal group of our society. Much good work has already been done in integration, but the report highlights areas where room for improvement,” says Nazia Hussain , the Open Society Foundations, the Foundation Project Manager.
Although Somalis’ absolute numbers have always been small, the arrival of Somali asylum seekers in the early 1990s was a significant event; it has been referred to as the “Somali shock”, Finland’s first experience accepting large groups of refugees.
The report suggests that Somalis living in Helsinki are satisfied with the city’s housing policies and services to promote the diversification of the structure of the population and to reduce their socio-economic one-sided.
Somali participants in the study felt that they are subjected to strong prejudices from other cities and attitudes that undermine the inclusion of experience in the wider society, even in your own community cohesion, the feeling is strong in some places.
We have several posts in our archives on Somalis in Finland and none involve happy Somalis or happy Finns.