Welcome to Intero Integration's first-ever newsletter. We're happy to have you with us. In our newsletters, we will be talking about moving and settling in Finland, how you can impact people around you to find their place in society, share tips and info about useful things to know, and how Intero could make a difference on your journey.
But first, it’s important to introduce the person who is behind Intero Integration …
Hello, this is Marii. I am the founder of Intero Integration. I am originally from Estonia but I have always been connected with Finland because my parents used to work in Finland. I spent some of my childhood summers in Hämenlinna. Both my parents speak Finnish fluently and I have always had a very strong connection with Finland. I left Estonia 11 years ago to go and discover the world, and it has been one of the best decisions of my life. I lived in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and now here in Finland for over 3 years already.
I never planned to move to Finland but life had other plans for me and I am very grateful to be here. I moved to Finland for work and like countless other people, for my partner. Having been living in societies that were very open and extroverted, Finland definitely felt like coming back home for me that I wasn’t used to anymore. People are quite introverted, they mean what they say – no small talk, are punctual, and focused on their own life and family.
When I arrived in Finland, I didn’t expect to have any struggles to integrate into society, but that mindset was probably the mistake I made. Like many other expats, I struggled to create social connections in Finland. I was quite lost to even find exactly the right information until I met Maris. When I moved to Finland I was studying towards my MA in Political Science with a main focus on integration and I did my internship at Estonian Embassy in Helsinki. That is where I met Maris and she was the link, the bridge, the connection point for me to truly start my integration journey in Finland. She gave me access to information about different communities, networks, opportunities, and knowledge about integration course. At that moment my only wish was that Maris could have come along already at the beginning of my move to Finland. She changed everything, and from there onwards everything changed. I started heavily to network, attend events, and gain information about different mentorship programs and a Spouse Program by Helsinki City. All of this made me happier, more included, and more confident about myself.
Being very active in communities and events, I met many expats and I was very intrigued to hear about their integration experience. The more people I spoke the more I heard over and over again “I wish I could have known it at the beginning…” or “This would have made such a big difference if I would have known this earlier…”. That made me reflect on my own experience in all the countries I have lived and currently live in. Meanwhile, I was writing my MA thesis about Estonian people's reintegration problems in Estonia after their return from the USA collaborating with the Integration Foundation and The Ministry of Culture in Estonia. This gave me a perspective also from Estonia. The overall conclusion was that people need someone who gives them access to information, guides them, and helps them to navigate through all the information. Getting the right information at the right time makes a huge difference!
I had focused on knowing a lot and continually knowing more. One thing led to another and I soon started helping other expats with information and guiding them to figure things out. It seemed like a natural path since in Australia and New Zealand I had advised expat families about the same topics and knew the process well. I felt this is it, this is what I want to do!
I love helping people! The feeling that your experience, the information you provide, and kindness could change someone’s life and perspective, well-being, and experience, is priceless. I strongly believe in the power of kindness and helping each other. It makes a difference! Next time you see someone on the street, in the metro station, or in front of the Central Train station, being lost and checking their map, stop and offer your help. Believe me, you will make their day and yours as well.
The passion for helping others, the experience and knowledge knowing what it takes to settle in a new country – Intero Integration was born.
Intero offers B2B relocation and integration services for companies that are hiring their new team members outside of Finland. As a relocation service, we provide support with visa applications and onboarding. Our main focus is offering hands-on continuous integration support for 3 months after the individual arrives in Finland. Integration services are personalized and flexible, allowing for us to support each individual exactly how they need it. Some of the main integration services are local paperwork and registration, home search, cultural training, Guidebook “Welcome to Finland”, network and community guidance, wellness and health guidance, extensive spouse support, and family support, entrepreneurship guidance for spouse, hobby guidance, walking tour, etc. You can find the full list of services on our website. Next to this, we provide integration training for teams and an ebook “Welcome to Finland” with tips and insider information.
Our services are designed based on my personal experiences, customer feedback interviews with expats, and recruitment specialists. Creating a service that matches the needs has been very important for Intero and we are constantly on the journey to improve it based on the feedback and needs of our customers.
Part of reaching more people and helping to spread the information is also the reason for this newsletter. As already mentioned at the beginning, in our newsletter, we will talk about moving and settling in Finland, how you can impact people around you to find their place in society, share tips and info about useful things to know, and how Intero could make a difference on people’s journey to make them feel welcomed in Finland.
We will also share our success stories, bring you insights from different events and people, and guide you to access relevant statistics and news about everything that matters in relocation and integration topics. We will talk about how as a company, team member, and community member you can support people with diverse backgrounds to make Finland their home.
Subscribe to be in the loop about the most human-centric and driven integration enthusiast company in Finland.
Happy Springtime!
Best,
Marii
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