Meet Lapinlahti people: Alaa Altamimi

I am Alaa Altamimi and I come from Bagdad, Irak. I came to Finland as a refugee in 2015 because of my political background. Tending to plants is my passion, I have a tropical forest in my home and on my balcony: bamboos, fruit trees with lemons and passion fruit. I also have cacti and a date palm, which is the first tree I grew in Finland. These days it reaches the ceiling. I keep looking for new plants or bamboo trees to give a good home to, when people can no longer take care of them, or they have to give them up for other reasons.

I got to know Lapinlahti in 2017, when I got my first job in Finland from the Miitti project. We organise Story Sharing Cafe -events, that are meant to gather people from different backgrounds, break prejudices and stigma that are associated with refugees and immigrants. In our events locals and newcomers can meet and get to know each other.

My first impression of Lapinlahti was impressive. My gaze was drawn to the linden tree lane that takes you to the main gate, the beautiful park area and the peek of the ocean between the beautiful buildings. I couldn’t believe that I would be able to work in such a place. The Lapinlahti community made a big impression as well: the atmosphere is very open and accepting. People here are very friendly! Everyone smiles and greets one another.

Lapinlahti is like a home to me. Through my first job I started to spend a lot of time in Lapinlahti and got to know people that became my first friends after coming to Finland. I was here everyday from morning to late evening, sometimes even until nighttime. At the beginning, I was also doing volunteer work in addition to my job.

I’ve been a part of many events in Lapinlahti. I remember especially the Suomea suomeksi -group where we practised speaking Finnish. Our instructor was a volunteer from Helsinki that taught us Helsinki slang. I also remember different park festivals and events for the whole family, Story Sharing Cafe, and Friends without Borders, which has been a special and important event for me and other immigrants. In addition to these I also started the Beach sauna activity and kept it running for a while.

I hope Lapinlahti is allowed to continue its important work in supporting mental health—as a centre where people can come and participate in free events in a scenic, historical milieu, and as a place where everyone is welcomed with kindness, just as they are.

Original text: Taika Korpinsola