More than 50 experimenters move to the country for a week – municipal testing site in the autumn
Nine municipalities in Northern Satakunta and Northwest Pirkanmaa are preparing to welcome an exceptionally large number of people interested in moving to the countryside in the autumn. Over 50 people from all over Finland will participate in the week-long Ihana Kamala Maaseutu (Beautiful, Terrible Countryside) housing experiments.
The interest in the experiments surprised the organizers: the call for applications held in April received no less than 223 applications. Of these, 37 applicants were invited to interviews, which were attended by both project employees and municipal representatives. The selections were made based on careful consideration.
“Originally, the plan was to take one housing experimenter in each municipality, but due to good applications and successful interviews, the plan changed: each municipality will receive 2–4 groups of experimenters for a week this coming autumn,” says the project manager. Noora-Mari Syväluoma.
In the end, 26 applicants were selected for the experiment: 9 solo travelers, 11 couples, and 6 families. In total, over 50 people will arrive in the area. They are people of different ages and from different life situations, but they are united by an interest in the countryside – and a dream or even a plan for a life change.
Everyday issues and the community atmosphere are interesting
The interviews emphasized the participants' genuine and practical questions about what life in municipalities is really like. The presence of municipal representatives was considered important, as it made it possible to get answers immediately during the interview.
"The applicants wanted to know, for example, what kind of recreational opportunities there are in the area, how to get involved in organizations and clubs, and how families' everyday lives are supported with services such as education and healthcare. Almost everyone wants to be close to nature and have a calmer rhythm of life in the countryside," says the project coordinator. Noora Elonen.
School class sizes, workplace peace, the availability of rental housing and municipal values also came up. Leisure opportunities such as horse riding, football, ice hockey, gym, hiking, open-air swimming and cultural activities interested many.
"Many applicants hoped to be able to participate in local life during the trial week. The atmosphere emanating from the municipality was also an important factor for many," adds Syväluoma.
Municipalities have a place to show off – and the opportunity to influence
The housing experimenters are on the move in earnest. Many of them are considering a real move, and the trial week is a concrete step towards potentially taking root in the area. The campaign, implemented in cooperation with nine municipalities, has succeeded in attracting attention nationwide and reaching precisely those people for whom the countryside could offer a new kind of everyday life.
“This is also an excellent opportunity for municipalities to test and develop their own practices for welcoming new immigrants,” emphasizes Elonen.
The upcoming pilot weeks will offer participants the opportunity to find out if this particular region could be their next home. At the same time, they will give municipalities the opportunity to show what they can offer new residents – now and in the future.
More information
The housing experiments are being carried out as part of the Network-based attraction cooperation project managed by Leader Pohjois-Satakunta, which is a joint rural vitality development project of nine municipalities. The project is co-financed by the European Union's Rural Development Fund, and the project period is 1.1.2024 January 30.6.2026–XNUMX June XNUMX.
More information about upcoming housing experiments on the website ihanakamalaamaaseutu.fi and Instagram @ihanakamalaaaseute
Project Manager Noora-Mari Syväluoma
Leader North Satakunta, Networking for Attraction - cooperation project
noora-mari.syvaluoma@kankaanpaa.fi
040 190 9440
Project coordinator Noora Elonen
Leader North Satakunta, Networking for Attraction - cooperation project
noora.elonen@kankaanpaa.fi
040 577 1300
Photo: The housing experimenters have now been selected! Photo: Artturi Kuja-Kanto
This page has been automatically translated using a translation tool. The translation may contain inaccuracies.
Legally binding and up-to-date information can be found in the original Finnish version of the page.
The municipality is not responsible for any errors in automatic translation.
Main pages
Most popular pages