On May 24th, Luckan Integration Borgå organized an Open Living Room goes Open Mic event. This time, we were thrilled to welcome nearly 30 guests, including individuals with immigrant backgrounds and Finnish-Swedish locals.
One of the most valuable aspects of the event was the diverse range of immigrants in attendance. We had participants who had recently moved to Finland within the past year, as well as those who had been living here for over 15 years. This allowed newcomers to share their experiences with individuals who had already overcome the difficulties and challenges that come with starting a new life in a foreign country. The atmosphere was filled with deep reflection and empathy as people engaged in meaningful conversations.
To kick off the event, we started with a warm-up program and played a game of “Would you rather?” This served as a fun icebreaker and helped us get to know each other better. Throughout the evening, the performances showcased the participants’ distinct life experiences, backgrounds, and interests. Students from Borgå Folkakademi, who had been studying Swedish for only 10 months, performed in Swedish. We also enjoyed Swedish stand-up comedy and were treated to homemade raw balls prepared by a fitness instructor. A singer from Rwanda touched our hearts with a beautiful song in her native language, empowering women. Many of our guests were deeply moved, expressing feelings of goosebumps and even tears. An Indian actor delivered an impressive performance that involved all our guests in singing and creating rhythm together. Lastly, our colleague delighted the audience with a few songs by the Cure, receiving thunderous applause.
For those who didn’t plan to perform or felt shy, we organized a “Magic Box” game towards the end of the event. Participants would close their eyes, select an unknown object from the box, and describe themselves through this item. The “Magic Box” allowed us to further deepen our understanding of one another while having fun and sharing plenty of laughter!
Luckan Integration and Luckan Grand successfully brought people together, creating a truly memorable event.
Katerina Karlova, Integration Coordinator in Borgå