Hello, Turku; Wanna build a community together?
Hey there, Turku! It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to sit down and chat with you all. As I’ve been reflecting on everything our team has been working on, one thing keeps coming to mind: community.
Whether you’ve lived here all your life, just moved to this beautiful city, or are simply passing through, I believe we all have a shared longing for connection and belonging.
At our core, that’s exactly what our nonprofit is about. We’re here to build bridges—between cultures, between individuals, and between ideas. And one of the ways we do that is by creating events that bring us all together, no matter who you are or where you come from.
How It All Started
Turku Together Ry began with a simple, personal idea: I wanted to feel more confident asking friends to hang out.
Honestly, I’m really shy, and it takes a lot for me to open up. Even sending a text with the simple question, “Do you want to grab a coffee together?” requires mustering some serious courage. It doesn’t come naturally to me because I’ve always worried about being a burden or facing rejection.
Starting Turku Together gave me an opportunity to organize activities where I could meet newcomers and locals alike. It helped me break out of my shell and find a way to settle into this wonderful city. Slowly, Turku became more than just a place to live—it started to feel like home.
And that’s what Turku Together Ry is all about: building a warm, welcoming community, easing the transition for those new to Turku, and helping everyone feel like they belong.
Finding My Tribe
When I moved to Turku from sunny Dubai in December 2021, I thought I was prepared for the change from a busy city to the calm beauty of Turku. But the winter cold, the loneliness, and the challenge of making new friends hit me harder than I expected.
By December 2023, I found myself in therapy for depression. Night after night, I was in tears, just wanting to go home. Then, one evening, a thought struck me: What if I’m not the only one who feels this way?
That small spark of hope pushed me to reach out, to create opportunities for people like me to come together and share experiences. One small circle led to another, and before I knew it, we had grown into a supportive little community.
Join Us or any other awesome community in Turku
Whether it’s through our upcoming Halloween Night Market (you’ll love the spooky fun!) or one of our wellbeing circles with artists from all over, there’s always room for more.
We may not have all the answers or be the go-to community in Turku. Because there are many wonderful organizations doing extraordinary things that could offer you extra support at different stages of your journey, like the ones listed below:
-
International House Turku brings together counselling and guidance services promoting and supporting the integration of immigrants and international newcomers in Turku and the Turku region.
-
ESN Uni Turku ry is a student organisation for exchange & international students, Erasmus+ volunteers or interns in Turku, and internationally-minded/-experienced Finns
-
Girls Gone International
GGI is a fun, friendly local and global community offering friendship, connection, support, belonging, empowerment and happiness to women and non-binary people living overseas or far from home.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ggiturku
The International Women Alliance is a vibrant community, based in Turku, Finland. Founded in June 2021, we are a diverse group of over 1,300 women from different professions, backgrounds, and ages.
-
Expat Turku Network primarily operates in English, providing a common language for everyone to connect and engage.
We currently meet once a month at Panimoravintola Koulu, but also encourage our members to take the initiative and organize events that contribute to the overall community spirit.
-
-
Keidas means Oasis in Finnish.
& they are an oasis of fun music gigs, cultural activities, and game nights.
The restaurant is vegan and offers student lunches.
Now, here we are—Turku Together! We’ve built something special, but we’re always looking to grow.
Enjoy your time in Turku,
Best,
Aya & the Turku Together team
