Curious about meeting new people?
CIRKELN is a social networking program that is intended to encourage two way integration. Where newcomers and Finns or people who have found a home in the Finnish culture can meet and get to do activities together.
What happens in CIRKELN?
Based on your application details, the CIRKELN coordinator will create a group for you with several other people who share interests and a common language. After that, together you can decide on what activity to do, where to meet and when.
For example, CIRKELN groups can go hiking, meet for coffee, practice languages, explore other cultures, go to see a film or a concert, visit museums or sights in the Capital Region, try a sport together, or simply go for a stroll. Together you decide and arrange what you want to do!
Each group will also be invited to a CIRKELN mingle, an exclusive social event hosted by Luckan, where they have the opportunity to meet many more participants from other groups. It’s another chance to connect and do fun, interactive activities together.
*This event is part of the International House Helsinki Friend Program pilot and supported by the City of Helsinki
FAQ
Cirkeln means “The circle” in Swedish. It’s a program designed to facilitate connections with new people. CIRKELN starts with just one person and flourishes when several individuals unite with a common purpose. Our coordinator is here to create these circles based on participants’ interests and shared language/s.
As a group, you all decide and arrange what to do together. The idea is to meet new people who share either common interests or wonderfully unique ones. Below, you’ll find some ideas to ignite your inspiration:
Nature: Hiking, gardening, exploring the wilderness, adopting an ecological lifestyle, or embracing environmental causes.
Culture: Music, literature, poetry, movies, languages, philosophy, education, art and visiting museums.
Sports: We celebrate the joy of movement, whether it’s a gym session, dancing, skiing, boxing, swimming, yoga, or a simple stroll – the choice is yours.
Lifestyle: Explore handicrafts, cooking, fashion, or extend a helping hand through volunteering.
Please keep an open heart and mind. Your presence is a treasured addition to our warm and welcoming community.
CIRKELN welcomes all individuals aged 18 and above who reside within the Helsinki capital region. If you have any specific requirements or needs, please don’t hesitate to share them with us. This way we can work together to find the most suitable solutions for you.
Join CIRKELN by filling in the registration form. Please answer the questions, mentioning your interests and if you have any expectations. You will receive an email confirmation upon signing up. The coordinator will contact you via email once a suitable group has been found for you, and proceed to create a WhatsApp group (or email thread) with your fellow Cirkeln participants. Though most registrations are processed between 1-4 weeks, please bear in mind that it could take up to 6 weeks. Your personal data is managed according to our GDPR regulation.
What brings CIRKELN together are the shared joys of a common spoken language and mutual interests. There’s no need to worry about your language skills; all that truly matters is your ability to express yourself and connect with others. Sharing similar interests paves the way for wonderful moments spent together. Furthermore, this is a great opportunity to explore new interests.
We understand that initiating the first interaction with new people can sometimes be a bit challenging. That’s why we’re here to offer our support and hope that this can be another way for you to make new connections.
All individuals are valued equally and treated with respect, including arriving on time for CIRKELN meetings. If you cannot attend, please inform everyone. If you face challenges or uncertainties, contact us, and in case of emergencies, dial 112.
You can keep meeting with your group if you all wish to. You can participate in CIRKELN as many times as you like; just inform the coordinator. CIRKELN participants are also warmly welcome to join other Luckan activities. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve and continue our services.
