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Educators and Youth workers, we invite you to a workshop "How to use an amazing method working with teenagers and youth via Lego - the method "LEGO® Serious Play®" on 27.11.2025 at Oodi Library.
Educators and Youth workers, we invite you to a workshop "How to use an amazing method working with teenagers and youth via Lego - the method "LEGO® Serious Play®" on 27.11.2025 at Oodi Library.
Hello Youth workers and Educators!
Would you like to have useful materials, a manual, and experience to use an amazing method working with teenagers and youth via Lego - the method "LEGO® Serious Play®"?
We invite you to meet at a workshop for up to 20 people at the Oodi Library, Helsinki, on November 27, starting at 2:00 PM.
The workshop will last approximately 2 hours, and you will learn how to use the Lego® Serious Play® method to engage 100% of teenagers and young adults in group interaction. Including those with communication problems, immigrants, refugees and other representatives of vulnerable groups.
Youth workers and educators have already used the the Lego® Serious Play® method in civic education, language learning, social inclusion, entrepreneurship, sustainability, emotional wellbeing, and create non-verbal bridges. It’s not about the subject - it’s about helping participants think creatively and collaboratively. Building with hands allows expression even when language is limited if you focus on topics like community, belonging, hopes for the future, or personal strengths.
Welcome to the workshop!
Participation is free.
Working language is English.
Deadlin to registration is Sunday 23 of November.
Please send your application by email to eduincenter@gmail.com
This is the Erasmus+ Project 2024-1-FI01-KA210-YOU-000250939 "Bricks with Meaning 2.0"
Open online conference:
Open online conference:
"Bricks with Meaning: How Youth Workers and Educators Can Use Lego® Serious Play®"
"Bricks with Meaning: How Youth Workers and Educators Can Use Lego® Serious Play®"
We invite you to participate in the Open online conference titled:
"Bricks with Meaning: How Youth Workers and Educators Can Use Lego® Serious Play®"
During the conference, we and our Erasmus+ partners will present our experiences and upcoming activities to disseminate the results of our current joint project "Bricks with Meaning 2.0."
Our Educational Initiatives Center, Helsinki are presenting a two-day training course "Lego® Serious Play® (LSP) for Working with Teens and Young People" by helping professionals (educators, social and youth workers, art therapists, etc.) in Helsinki on Saturday and Sunday, October 25-26 (16 academic hours)
The LSP method was developed for the development of organizations, businesses, and institutions and has been successfully used in hundreds of companies worldwide. Most recently, this method has been adapted for use by educators and youth workers.
The LSP method helps the trainer unlock the personal potential of each group member; develops social connections among children and teenagers; teaches them to imagine the future and overcome various challenges. The method is particularly effective in group and individual work with teenagers and young adults aged 12 to 30.
The LSP method promotes improved communication, the development of creativity and problem-solving skills, the formation of a shared understanding in groups, and significantly increases the involvement and responsibility of participants, including migrants and people with various disabilities.
Welcome to join the online conference!
Working languages: English and Russian
https://www.facebook.com/events/831815552512283
Educators, youth workers, and other professionals who want to learn how to work with children and young people via LEGO® Serious Play® methodology are invited to a two-day course in Helsinki in October 25-26. Participation is free!
Educators, youth workers, and other professionals who want to learn how to work with children and young people via LEGO® Serious Play® methodology are invited to a two-day course in Helsinki in October 25-26. Participation is free!
Dear colleagues!
Educators, youth and social workers, art therapists, and other helping professionals!
We, the Educational Initiatives Center ry, invite you and your colleagues to participate in a two-day course: "Bricks with Meaning 2.0. LEGO® Serious Play® for Working with Teens and Young People."
The LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) method is the special use of Lego to engage all participants in the activities (playful visualization and construction of thoughts and metaphors, development of creative skills such as "thinking with your hands" and "listening with your eyes").
Course in Helsinki: October 25-26, 2025 (Saturday and Sunday), 16 academic hours.
Course languages: English and Russian.
Participation in the course is free!
Applications are accepted by email to eduincenter@gmail.com
The application deadline is October 15.
Invitations to the course will be sent to selected participants on October 17.
Our organization's board member, Daria Karpova, received a Certificate of Recognition for a series of LEGO® Serious Play® sessions with children, teenagers, and young adults in Finland.
Our organization's board member, Daria Karpova, received a Certificate of Recognition for a series of LEGO® Serious Play® sessions with children, teenagers, and young adults in Finland.
Translation:
CERTIFICATE
Daria Karpova
carried out a mentoring mission and conducted a series of sessions for teenagers and young adults using the Lego Serious Play method, which she learned during the Erasmus+ "Bricks with Meaning 2.0" training.
The training was organized by the Center for Educational Initiatives in Helsinki.
During the workshops, the mentor demonstrated a strong ability to apply the learned methods in practice, support the creativity and engagement of participants, and create an interactive and inspiring learning environment.
Helsinki, August 14, 2025
Director General Olga Liukkonen
SVK-liitto (Suomen Venäjänkielisten Liitto ry)
Association of Russian-Speaking People in Finland
We invite you to a presentation of materials for educators and social workers integrating immigrant children and youth (Oodi Library, Helsinki, September 10, starting at 5:00 PM)
We invite you to a presentation of materials for educators and social workers integrating immigrant children and youth (Oodi Library, Helsinki, September 10, starting at 5:00 PM)
Are you looking for opportunities to develop and apply your teaching skills and abilities in Finland?
Are you eager to learn new teaching techniques and get your hands on teaching materials?
Are you interested in a community of educators, psychologists, and social workers willing to share useful knowledge and support you and your children?
On Wednesday, September 10th, we will be presenting our teaching resource "Bricks with Purpose 2.0: A LEGO® Serious Play® User's Guide for Educators and Youth Workers" at Oodi Library in Helsinki.
We invite you to this presentation and a discussion about opportunities and resources for developing and applying your teaching skills in Finland.
Meeting time: Wednesday, September 10th, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Oodi Library (Room 4).
This teaching resource was jointly produced, through a grant from the European Commission's Erasmus+ program, by partner organizations: Educational Initiatives Center (EIC);
Partners from Poland - Fundacja Młodzi dla Europy;
Partners from Lithuania - Eduplius;
Partners from Estonia - Eesti-Mordva Selts.
Erasmus+ Project 2024-1-FI01-KA210-YOU-000250939
Welcome!
In April and May, our organization developed and conducted a series of LEGO® Serious Play® workshops with teenagers and young adults in Finland.
In April and May, our organization developed and conducted a series of LEGO® Serious Play® workshops with teenagers and young adults in Finland.
Our organization continued developing LEGO® Serious Play® activities (scenarios) with adolescents and young adults.
We had:
April 8 and 15, "Where Am I and What's Around Me?" activities with migrant adolescents. These activities developed their self-identification skills and awareness of their place in the system of relationships through the construction of symbolic LEGO models, improved their self-esteem, and helped them integrate with their peers.
May 28, "Me in a New School" activity with sixth-grade students. This activity reduced anxiety among first-grade graduates about the upcoming transition to a new school in August, where they will have new teachers and classmates, as well as an unfamiliar environment and setting.
May 31, "Planning the Development of a Youth Public Organization." The program consisted of two phased sessions, each aimed at exploring individual and collective visions of the organization through the creation of LEGO models and facilitated discussion.
On Sunday, June 1st at 12:00 pm, the annual meeting of the Educational Initiatives Center ry will be held at the Oodi Library in Helsinki.
On Sunday, June 1st at 12:00 pm, the annual meeting of the Educational Initiatives Center ry will be held at the Oodi Library in Helsinki.
We invite you to the annual meeting of the Educational Initiatives Center (EIC).
Time: Sunday, June 1, 2025, 12:00 - 14:00, Oodi Library, Helsinki, Room 7
Agenda:
1. Report on the organization's work (Director Eduard Khakimov)
2. Plans for the second half of 2025
3. Miscellaneous questions
Please indicate your participation by email to eduincenter@gmail.com
or by phone at 0466 358 558
"Can building with Legos lead to better integration?"
"Can building with Legos lead to better integration?"
This article about our project was published in the magazine Satakieli ("One Hundred Languages") on the website of Haaga-Helia University, Helsinki.
This article about our project was published in the magazine Satakieli ("One Hundred Languages") on the website of Haaga-Helia University, Helsinki.
atakieli (One Hundred Languages) journalist Alex Trifonov investigated and wrote about our project.
Read the article here
On March 22, our organization's director, Eduard Khakimov, presented our Erasmus+ project at a large seminar of the SVK-liitto (Association of Russian-Speaking People in Finland)
On March 22, our organization's director, Eduard Khakimov, presented our Erasmus+ project at a large seminar of the SVK-liitto (Association of Russian-Speaking People in Finland)
On Saturday, March 22, the Association of Russian-Speaking People in Finland (SVK-liitto) held a very useful on-site seminar for representatives of 16 Russian-speaking organizations from all of our country.
Our organization's director, Eduard Khakimov, spoke about our annual project "Bricks With Meaning 2.0" and our partners in this project—organizations from Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia.
We thank the Association of Russian-Speaking People in Finland (SVK-liitto) for organizing this wonderful seminar, during which we, the participants, learned a lot, developed prototypes for three local socially significant partnership projects, and shared experiences of participating in various international Erasmus+ programs!
On Sunday 16 March we are organising an Online Meeting with a good psychotherapist (in Russian language)
On Sunday 16 March we are organising an Online Meeting with a good psychotherapist (in Russian language)
We invite parents and teachers from Finland to a meeting with a very good psychotherapist online (in Russian)
Participation is free.
The online meeting will take place on Sunday 16 March at 17:00 Finnish time.
We will not record the meeting
Huge thanks to the trainers and participants of the "Bricks with Meaning 2.0" training for youth workers and educators (in Helsinki, 2-9.03.25)!
Huge thanks to the trainers and participants of the "Bricks with Meaning 2.0" training for youth workers and educators (in Helsinki, 2-9.03.25)!
On behalf of our organization, Educational Initiatives Center ry, which organized the first week-long training for youth workers from four countries, we express our HUGE THANKS to the wonderful trainers Vera and Roman! For conducting this incredibly useful training for 16 participants who work with immigrant teenagers and young adults in community organizations, schools, hobby clubs, refugee centers, and elsewhere in Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland.
During these days, we, the participants, accomplished a lot:
- learned how to use various LEGO construction sets to safely and funnily teach children and young adults self-discovery, creativity, and interaction with others, even those who don't speak their language well (using the LEGO® Serious Play® methodology);
- created our own programs or individual sessions to engage immigrants in socially significant activities with locals;
- met creative and active professional educators from Finland, Poland, Estonia, and Lithuania;
- immersed ourselves in the everyday life of a Finnish secondary school in Helsinki, observing lessons in both transitional and standard classes attended by teenagers who had moved from other countries;
- embraced the Finnish tradition of making personal choices and living a life of pleasure without disturbing others or nature: studying outdoors, staying overnight in a hotel without a reception desk, eating all lunches and dinners from a buffet, maintaining our health and energy in a real sauna, strengthening our physical and psychological safety, and more.
And now a little about the new programs we created, in which we used a variety of Lego elements and bricks.
The first group developed a project for youth entrepreneurs – a game about how several designers can collaborate to visually identify risks and dangerous spots in urban spaces.
The second group developed a game program for children aged 8 to 12 to develop an understanding of resource-saving and responsible living.
The third group, an element of any education for adolescents and young adults, used Lego to model individual expectations for future learning, in order to compare them with the results achieved at the end of the training.
Finally, the fourth group developed an activity in which adolescents create, discuss, and adopt rules for their interactions in and outside of school.
We are now planning to write a methodological guide for youth workers and educators on the use of Lego in their professional work, including on the integration of immigrant children and young people into the community of their new country.
Our entire week-long international training, "Bricks With Meaning 2.0," was co-financed by the Erasmus+ program (Project 2024-1-FI01-KA210-YOU-000250939).
On Tuesday, February 25, the University of Helsinki will host a zoom meeting for immigrants who want to prepare for teaching jobs in Finland.
On Tuesday, February 25, the University of Helsinki will host a zoom meeting for immigrants who want to prepare for teaching jobs in Finland.
The University of Helsinki's study programme for immigrants who have already moved to Finland includes two tracks:
[1] Finnish language for teaching (from level B1 to level B2)
[2] Basic knowledge and skills of a preschool teacher
The studies will start in 2025 with orientation at the end of April and intensive studies in May-June, August-December and January-February 2026 (study in Finnish, free for students).
The application deadline for the studies is 12.03.2025
On Tuesday, 25 February, at 14.30 - 16.00, the University of Helsinki will hold an information session on zoom for those who are interested!
For more details, see the University of Helsinki website
Open call to have a training (for youth workers and educators 2-9 March 2025 in Helsinki)!
Open call to have a training (for youth workers and educators 2-9 March 2025 in Helsinki)!
Are you interested in learning new pedagogical methods of working with teenagers and youth?
Would you like to attend a training on using innovative methods in youth/pedagogical work?
Are you an educator or a youth worker, or an NGO's volunteer in Finland, Poland, Lithuania or Estonia?
If you are interested, we invite you to take part in a training in Helsinki, 2 - 9 March 2025 (hotel accommodation, meals, travel and work of trainers are covered by the EU's Erasmus+ programme).
Please see the training details at the link here
In December, our organization helped provide an internship in Finland for 53 school principals and educators from Kazakhstan
In December, our organization helped provide an internship in Finland for 53 school principals and educators from Kazakhstan
In early December 2024, our organization helped a partner organization provide an internship in Finland for 53 school principals and educators from Kazakhstan.
The topic of the internship was "Educational Explosion: Ideas that Change Schools".
We visited four schools and one kindergarten, the Finnish Education Agency and several educational spaces of informal education.
At the end of the internship, the participants modeled their future educational organizations in Kazakhstan, introducing many of the ideas they saw into their projects.
The modeling was carried out through Lego methods of group work (Lego Serious Play)
November 16th is the World Day for Tolerance. Take place in the seminar on the project “Bricks with Meaning 2.0” (Preparing methodology and materials for educators integrating migrant students)
November 16th is the World Day for Tolerance. Take place in the seminar on the project “Bricks with Meaning 2.0” (Preparing methodology and materials for educators integrating migrant students)
We invite you to take part in the seminar on the project "Bricks with Meaning 2.0" (Preparing methodology and materials for educators integrating migrant students), November 16th at 12.00 - 15.00.
Seminar location: Helsinki Main Library "Oodi".
Address: Töölönlahdenkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki
There will also be an opportunity to participate online.
On Saturday, October 19th in the Central Library of Helsinki “Oodi” will host a festival “Dances and Songs of Related Finno-Ugric Peoples”!
On Saturday, October 19th in the Central Library of Helsinki “Oodi” will host a festival “Dances and Songs of Related Finno-Ugric Peoples”!
We invite you to participate in the festival "Dances and Songs of Related Finno-Ugric Peoples", in the Central Library “Oodi” of Helsinki, free entry!
Program on 19.10.2024
13:00 Discussion of invited speakers (in Finnish).
14:00 Naised Köögis Group (Estonia)
15:00 Duet Arto and Eila Rinne (Seto people)
16:00 Mari, Erzya and Udmurt songs
17:00 Marko Zhuste (Sami people)
18:00 Tatros Group: folk dance music, Moldova
Organizers:
Karelian Cultural Society, Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Center, World Music Center, M.A. Kastrén Society, NGO "Friends of Kindred Peoples", Association of Finnish Hungarians (FME), Finland-Russia Society.
The event is supported by the City of Helsinki, the Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Centre, the Hungarian Academy of Arts MMA, the Hungarian National Cultural Foundation, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Hungarian Association of Finland.
On October 15, the Club of Russian-speaking teachers of Finland holds a seminar “Bilingualists methodology in teaching the Finnish language”
On October 15, the Club of Russian-speaking teachers of Finland holds a seminar “Bilingualists methodology in teaching the Finnish language”
We invite you to take part in the seminar "Bilingualists methodology in teaching the Finnish language" on October 15 at 12:00 - 14:00.
The members of our organization have developed an original methodology for teaching the Finnish language using the Bilingualists methodology.
We invite you to get acquainted with this methodology and start using it in your practice.
The seminar is held online via the Zoom program (in Russian).
For everyone who wants to work as an educator in Finland, find out about the program “Employment Pathway in Helsinki for Foreign Educators” on August 8 (in Russian)
For everyone who wants to work as an educator in Finland, find out about the program “Employment Pathway in Helsinki for Foreign Educators” on August 8 (in Russian)
We invite you to participate in a webinar with graduates of the program "Employment Pathway in Helsinki for Foreign Educators" in 2023 and 2024. The webinar will take place on Thursday, 8.08.2024 at 18.00 - 19.00.
Helsinki Vocational College Stadin AO has been implementing this 3-month training and internship program (in Finnish) for several years. Internships as a teacher or assistant teacher are organized in schools and kindergartens in Helsinki. Participation in the program is free!
The program will run from September 2 to December 20, 2024. Registration deadline is August 11. Interview and entrance test (in Finnish) - 12 August.
The program of Stadin AO “The employment path of foreign pedagogues” (Vieraskielisten pedagogien työllistymispolku) is opened for new applicants
The program of Stadin AO “The employment path of foreign pedagogues” (Vieraskielisten pedagogien työllistymispolku) is opened for new applicants
The Vocational College of Helsinki Stadin AO twice a year implements a 5-week training program “Path to Employment for Foreign Teachers” and then an internship program in schools/kindergartens.
The new program will start in September 2024.
Now the Stadin AO has opened a line for new applicants.
Deadline: 11.8.2024.
Several members of our organization took part in the conference in Vilnius on June 1 “Adaptation of relocants and their children” and online.
Several members of our organization took part in the conference in Vilnius on June 1 “Adaptation of relocants and their children” and online.
We were happy to take part in the conference on June 1, 2024: in panel discussions, two master classes and a trip to Vilnius!
Vice-director of our organization Eduard Khakimov made a speech on the topic “Russian-speaking relocants of helping professions: the main ways of adaptation and finding work (using the examples from Finland)”
Links
Conference website: https://sites.google.com/view/confadapt
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/SMUeSQexykxPHbNC
Chat for participants in Telegram: https://t.me/confadapt
On May 18, a meeting of the Club of Russian-speaking Educators in Finland took place!
On May 18, a meeting of the Club of Russian-speaking Educators in Finland took place!
On Saturday, May 18, a meeting of the Club of Russian-speaking Educators in Finland was held.
We met online with professor of intercultural communication Olga Kovbasyuk and got acquainted with various aspects of increasing the effectiveness of communications with people of different cultures.
We also discussed ways to resolve conflicts between people of different nationalities in kindergartens and schools in Finland. It was really useful.
In the photo: Professor Olga Kovbasyuk
Online meeting recordings are available for everyone who has become a member of the Center for Educational Initiatives ry (organization)!
Members of our organization have completed training and become Instructors in teaching Finnish spoken language
Members of our organization have completed training and become Instructors in teaching Finnish spoken language
Congratulations Rosa and Anastasia - the members of our organization Educational Initiatives Center ry for successfully completing the training and receiving Certificates of the Instructor in teaching Finnish spoken language (volunteer) with using the “Toisto” method - “Listen, repeat, use in life”!
Our organisation have started a project "Finnish for immigrant teachers" based on Toisto-methodology and some matherials from our project "Sets of educational materials in Finnish for immigrant teachers (for working as a teacher's assistant in schools and kindergartens)"
Thanks to the support of the EU Erasmus+ program, we, together with partner organizations from three countries, are starting a project on 01.12.24 to create didactic materials useing of Lego in the integration of young migrants into our countries
Thanks to the support of the EU Erasmus+ program, we, together with partner organizations from three countries, are starting a project on 01.12.24 to create didactic materials useing of Lego in the integration of young migrants into our countries
Congratulations to our partners from Estonia, Lithuania and Poland on receiving a grant from the EU Erasmus+ programme to create didactic materials for teachers and youth workers on the use of LEGO® Serious Play® in the integration of migrant young people and children into the host communities.
The project starts on 1 December 2024 and will last 12 months.
During the project in Finland, we will hold a development workshop (from 2 to 9 March 2025), create and experimentally implement different methods of using Lego in educational work with children and young people at the sites of 4 countries, and also write and publish the best didactic materials and recommendations (in English, with translation into Russian and Ukrainian)
Meeting of the Club of Russian-speaking educators of Finland on Saturday, April 27 in the Multicultural Center "Graniitti", Helsinki
Meeting of the Club of Russian-speaking educators of Finland on Saturday, April 27 in the Multicultural Center "Graniitti", Helsinki
We invite teachers, psychologists, social workers and other helping professionals who work or are looking for work in Finland to the meeting and workshop “LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®”
Time: 15.30 - 19.00
(You can come at 14.00 to participate in an additional master class on writing social projects by the SVK-liitto ry organization)
Location: Sienitie 18 B, Helsinki - Graniitti Multicultural Center (in the northeast of Helsinki, near the intersection of the 3rd ring and the Helsinki - Lahti motorway), buses 74, 75, 553, 702, etc.
Working language is Russian.
Free of charge.
Invitation to the annual spring meeting of the Educational Initiatives Center ry in the Oodi library on Sunday, April 21
Invitation to the annual spring meeting of the Educational Initiatives Center ry in the Oodi library on Sunday, April 21
We invite all members and all interested people to the annual meeting of the public organization Educational Initiatives Center ry in the main library of the city of Helsinki "Oodi" on Sunday, April 21
Time: 12.00 - 14.00
Agenda.
1. Report on the organization’s activities in 2023 - April 2024.
2. Discussion and approval of the organization’s plans for April 2024 - March 2025.
3. Acceptance of new members.
Inquiries and registration via email eduincenter@gmail.com
The meeting recordings are available for everyone who has become a member of the Center for Educational Initiatives ry (organization)!
Webinar "How teachers and social workers can use Lego constructors in working with children, youth and adults” on March, 26
Webinar "How teachers and social workers can use Lego constructors in working with children, youth and adults” on March, 26
We invite teachers and social workers to a webinar on systematizing knowledge about the using of Lego in working with children, youth and adults. Start of the webinar: March 26, 18.00 Finnish time (Webinar in Russian)
Vebinar recordings are available for everyone who has become a member of the Center for Educational Initiatives ry (organization)!
The workshop about using Lego-tools in the work of a teacher took place on March, 16
The workshop about using Lego-tools in the work of a teacher took place on March, 16
The workshop “New methods in the work of teachers, educators and social workers with children and youth through the LEGO constructor” was carried out sincerely and effectively during the meeting of the Club of Russian-speaking educators on March 16, 2024
Our February workshop about Lego-tools in Russian has been postponed to March 16
Our February workshop about Lego-tools in Russian has been postponed to March 16
Attention! The workshop in Russian “New methods in the work of teachers, educators and social workers with children and youth through the LEGO constructor” has been postponed to March 16, 2024
Members of the board of our organization completed Erasmus+ training on the use of Lego-tools
Members of the board of our organization completed Erasmus+ training on the use of Lego-tools
In December 2023, two members of our board took part in the Game of Change program (Erasmus+): learning to use the LEGO methodology to create new teams (and observe group dynamics); for reflections of one’s own personality: one’s own creativity, one’s own failures, one’s own insights, etc.; for brainstorming on solving problems in the development of our organizations; to visually summarize the results of joint group work; for fun meeting new people!
Many thanks to the Erasmus+ program, organizer Denis Krivosheev from Estonia and trainers Vera and Roman, as well as friends from Spain, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania and Estonia, who participated in the training with us!
Thank you for organizing the inspiring Finno-Ugric Days in Finland!
Thank you for organizing the inspiring Finno-Ugric Days in Finland!
In the third week of October 2023, several organizations made traditional Finno-Ugric Peoples' Days in Finland.
Our organization represented Udmurt culture. Thanks to the organizers for the opportunity to take part and teach Finnish children different traditions in embroidery and clothing decoration. We were inspired!
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