Curious about meeting new people?
CIRKELN is a social networking program that is intended to encourage two way integration. Where newcomers and native 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 of two to four other people with shared interests. After that, together you can decide on what activity, when and where to meet.
For example, CIRKELN groups can go hiking, meet for coffee, practice languages, explore other cultures, go 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 what you want to do!
Photo: Matti Pyykkö / 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 three or more individuals unite with a common purpose. Our coordinator is here to create these circles based on participants’ interests and the languages they are comfortable with.
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, and art.
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 warmly welcomes individuals aged 18 and above within the Capital Region to join us. 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 down below. Please answer the questions and mention your interest and expectations. After that you will receive an email from the coordinator with a few suggestions about other CIRKELN participants and activities. Together you all decide what to do, when, where and how. 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 as many CIRKELN groups as you’d like; just inform the coordinator. CIRKELN participants are also warmly welcomed to join other Luckan activities. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve our services.
Anders Husa & Kaitlin Orr/Helsinki Partners
Heiko Müller/Helsinki Partners
