The latest issue of Helsinki-lehti, the City of Helsinki’s free periodical, will be delivered to capital homes this week. Among other things, the stories on the winter issue’s page in English shine a spotlight on the city’s new mayors, introduce the helpful Newcomer’s Guide, and direct readers to fun adult education courses.
The feature story of the publication’s ‘In English’ page focuses on the new Mayor of Helsinki, Juhana Vartiainen, and Deputy Mayors Anni Sinnemäki, Nasima Razmyar, Daniel Sazonov and
Paavo Arhinmäki. The article lists their educational backgrounds and political careers to date, but it also gives special attention to the new team’s international backgrounds and experiences.
The story points out how these life stories likely contributed to the mayors’ goal to “make Helsinki a joyful, surprising and experientially rich city with an international feel”. This goal is one of the top priorities of the new Helsinki City Strategy, a document that will direct the city’s decision-making for the next four years.
The English-language page also highlights a new comprehensive information packet called the Newcomer’s Guide. A product of Helsinki’s City Executive Office, the guide is divided into four sections: Moving, Living, Work & Study and Leisure Time.
The Moving section has information about dealing with the immigration authorities, registering your right of residence and arranging for everyday necessities like a tax card, social security coverage, and mobile phone service. The Living section explains how housing, education and healthcare work in the region.
The Work & Study section outlines helpful job and education tips for newcomers, while the Leisure Time section profiles each of the capital area cities and their sports and culture offerings. The guide saves the best for last, with a fun list of the main characteristics of Finnish culture and everyday phrases in Finnish – a big help to people who have relocated to the area.
Helsinki-lehti’s English page also contains short news items on the latest round of the city’s participatory budgeting initiative OmaStadi, free training in the use of digital tools, and the new nuorten.helsinki(Link leads to external service) website designed specifically for younger residents of the city.
Each issue of Helsinki-lehti has two pages in Swedish and one page in English, in addition to the content in Finnish. Helsinki-lehti is available in an accessible online format at julkaisut.hel.fi(Link leads to external service).
Learn more:
Helsinki City Strategy(Link leads to external service)
Newcomer’s Guide(Link leads to external service)
Photo: Pertti Nisonen