Work is a necessity for a human being to feel that he is an independent, useful entity. Nevertheless, having work or a steady job is quite difficult nowadays even for settled down citizens, especially work that meets their profession and character. Similarly, it is a dream for immigrants who have been living here for about a year, waiting anxiously for their decisions.
I have met a lot of people looking for a job – temporary or voluntary (without any payment) – in camps. They need to feel their importance in life and make use of their own time here, instead of eating and sleeping without any activity during long periods of time. Work also contributes to relieving their anxiety towards their own situation.
As soon as the blueberry season has come, some asylum seekers have found this a chance to pick berries in pails and sell them to local people around the camp.
I thank local people who encourage immigrants to work. I also hope that individuals and organizations help them to find work or qualify them for it, which enables them to practice the Finnish language and integrate swiftly into this society.
One of the immigrants,
Ammar Al-Kaysi
Ammar Al-Kaysi knows what it's like to live in a Finnish camp for refugees. He blogs about his experiences and about what it is like to start from zero in a new country. He was recently given a residence permit.
This blog is in English.