We caught up with a few of the “fun crafty ladies,” one of our fabulous Cirkeln groups. Ezgi, Sakshi and Marlene came for this interview after meeting nearly a year ago in May 2025 and are here to share a little about their experience.
It started, as all Cirkeln groups start, by applying to the program, being matched together based on their interests, then introduced in a WhatsApp group where they were informed of things they had in common. For them, the common language was English, and they all expressed an interest in creative arts and crafts, getting outdoors in nature and sharing good food. The ladies were from all four corners of the globe, including Turkey, India, Austria, Russia and the UK. They had a great attitude towards being from different backgrounds by always being enthusiastically open and inquisitive about each other, and trying new activities together.
The most successful Cirkeln groups tend to make arrangements to meet within the first two weeks and these ladies were no exception. They immediately hit it off, sharing great introductions about themselves and their hobbies. They were eager to get started and all actively participated to make it happen. See what the ladies had to say about their experience:
Who were the members of your group?
Ezgi, Sakshi, Marlene, and Jess
After seven months, Jess had a change of life situation and sadly had to leave Finland, but she is still in the group and stays in touch.
When did you first get matched and was it easy to chat?
We were matched in May 2025. Yes, super easy. We were all very equal in contributing to the conversation, making suggestions and arranging meet ups. It just happened that way. Everyone was approachable and the group had a good blend of different personalities.
When did you first meet?
Our first meet up was in June to make pottery. We enjoyed each others’ company and got to know each other better whilst doing something a bit different!
Did any of you know each other from before?
No, we were totally new to each other but so strange that we found out that two of us were practically nextdoor neighbours!
Have you been involved with Luckan before taking part in Cirkeln?
Not a lot before this point.
Ezgi – I had just had a free Guidance appointment at Luckan where I was informed about Cirkeln.
Marlene – I had never heard about Luckan but I found a Cirkeln flyer when I was at International House Helsinki.
Sakshi – I had heard of Luckan but not attended anything yet. I saw an advert online from International House Helsinki.
Why choose Cirkeln?
It seems a bit different. Many other social events operate on a short term basis, and often when you turn up to an event you are not really sure if others taking part want to make new friends or keep in touch after. It was nice to be a part of Cirkeln where you know that others also may want to meet to do things longer term so you don’t have to feel awkward about contacting each other.
What activities did you do together?
1 – Attended a pottery session
2 – Visited Lauttasaari for a walk and picnic
3 – Visited an “open gardens” event
4 – Took trip to Pihlajasaari Island
5 – Took a trip to Nuuksio national park and swam in the lake
6 – Played mini golf
7 – Played padel
8 – Did aerial yoga: ILMA yoga and aerial centre is now closed
9 – Ate Japanese sandwiches at Tampopo
10 – Visited art museums
11 – Cooked traditional Indian food together at home
12- Another idea we have not done yet but want to do is SUP
There may be some we have forgotten as we have done a lot! Only one of us was able to attend the Cirkeln Mingle but we were always busy making our own other arrangements.
Who suggested things / made things happen?
Actually everyone equally contributed in making suggestions and arrangements. Nothing felt forced and it was very easy.
What do you think made your experience so successful and what advice would you give new groups for a similar result?
We arranged to meet up ASAP to kick things off and continued to communicate regarding future plans for subsequent meet ups.
Has the experience helped you to feel more at home here?
Yes, the timing of it was great for us as it kick-started our summer. We were hoping to find others who would want to meet to do various things so this was perfect. It is always nice to have an activity to focus on, especially if you are socially anxious in any way. It can help remove the pressure from having all the attention on you during a conversation as it also provides some natural, fun talking points, and a good bonding experience.
Did your experience match your expectations?
Yes, we all thoroughly read more about Cirkeln on the website so we knew what to expect. We understood that it was up to us to organise ourselves and choose to fully participate. We were all hoping to meet people who were open to long term friendships, where we could share in various activities, and we certainly found that here.
Would you recommend this program to others who are new to the city?
Yes definitely. Why not give it a try? You have nothing to lose and it could be a useful, fun thing to do. It’s exciting to meet new people and you never know, you may gain some lovely new connections along the way.
If you are inspired by this story, perhaps you would also like to join Cirkeln and meet some wonderful new acquaintances?
You can read more and sign up here: