For me, this journey has been far more than a series of interviews and feature stories. It has been a journey of discovery, filled with unexpected turns, moments of reflection, challenges, and above all, encounters with extraordinary people whose stories have reshaped the way I understand migration, integration, and belonging.
The Multilingual Voices of Vaasa project includes five interviews. You can listen to all the interviews at Pomedia Youtube channel or read the summaries as articles on Pomedia.fi:
- From Survival to Living: The twists and turns of a Chinese Single Mother in Finland – The story of Jun Wu published 5.8.2026.
- Learning a Different Kind of Success – The Happiness She Never Planned For – The story of Trang Pham published 27.7.2026.
- The Desire For Adventure – Eventually ”Everything will be OK” – The story of Thao Nguyen published 21.7.2026.
- ”Let Me Be Useful” – How Language, Work and Belonging Shaped One Migrant’s Journey in Finland – The story of Jordi Storm published 10.7.2026.
- Finding Home in Vaasa through Friendship, Language and Everyday life – The story of Melisa Benchish published 10.7.2026.
Not just crossing geographical borders
Throughout this project, I came to realize that migration is much more than crossing geographical borders. It is a deeply personal journey of rebuilding identity, finding purpose, and creating a sense of home in a place that was once unfamiliar.
Every conversation opened a new window into someone else’s world. Some stories made me smile, others left me silent in thought, but each one reminded me of the courage it takes to begin again. I am deeply grateful to every participant who trusted me with their experiences and allowed me to share them with a wider audience.
If this project has helped—even in a small way—to foster greater understanding between Finnish society and the diverse international communities that now call Vaasa home, then I believe it has fulfilled its purpose.
My sincere thanks
I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Hanna Hietikko. From the very first idea to the final interview, Hanna has been far more than a colleague. Her guidance, encouragement, and unwavering support made this project possible, and I am sincerely thankful for everything she has done throughout this journey.
My sincere thanks also go to Jani Kielinen, whose dedication behind the scenes, particularly in the technical production of the podcast and interviews, has been invaluable.
Finally, I would like to thank the University of Vaasa, Pomedia and Vaasan Aktiasäätiö for believing in this project and giving me the opportunity to bring it to life.
Although this project has reached its final chapter, I hope the conversations it has started will continue. Because beyond our different languages, cultures, and backgrounds, every person carries a story worth hearing and every story has the power to bring us a little closer to one another.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey.
