There are hundreds of illiterate immigrants in Finlnad. Most of them are women. Illiteracy is an impediment to learn Finnish and complicates integration into the Finnish society.

Sometimes courses provided by the local authorities in Finland do not reach all the illiterate immigrants. Let's read together network helps immigrants to integrate into Finnish society by organizing weekly Finnish language courses all over Finland. Currently there are over 80 learning groups in 30 different localities and counting.

Network's primary goal is to deepen integration. Purpose of the learning groups is to provide a safe community for the women to learn Finnish and make new friends. The Network helps women to proceed in their lives for example by showing them educational opportunities or/and a working place. Ability to speak, read and write Finnish will also improve the well-being of their families.

Learning groups meet once a week for two hours at a time. The network is also arranging seminars and workshops. An annual seminar is also organized. In addition, the network publishes educational material.

14th February 2011 the Network published a closing report of the campaign period 2007-2010. The results are:

The annual amount of participating students has more than tripled since the campaign was established in 2007. In the beginning there was 216 students participating while in the autumn 2010 the number of students was 706. At the same time the amount of teachers has also more than tripled from the initial 75 to today’s 236.

The number of lectures given has almost quadrupled during the campaign. Altogether over 10000 45-minute lectures were given. The campaign expanded also geographically and in 2010 there were groups in almost 30 different localities all around Finland.

Based on teachers’ evaluations, 30 per cent of the students have made significant progress. 44 per cent of the students have made some progress. Only 12 per cent of the students have made only a little or no progress. 14 per cent of students have found work or have continued to further studies.

The basic attitude of the students towards the campaign has been positive and enthusiastic. They hope that more lectures would be arranged.

•    Teachers monitor the progress of the students
•    Teachers’ half-year reports on the activity of their groups and on the organisation and activities of the whole campaign.
•    Closing report of the campaign period 2007-2010
•    Feedback from the students

•    Immigrant women and girls, who are illiterate or unskilled in Finnish language.
•    Especially those, who are left outside of the official teaching. For example mothers of little children and elderly women.

2007-2010

• Funded mainly with a campaign launched by Zonta International, net proceeds ~ 100 000 euros
• Donations and contributions ~ 15 000 euros

2011-2012

• Funding from the Finnish Cultural Foundation

Resources

• 300 voluntary teachers