Integration, ELO Project

The Stay and Live in North Karelia — Elä ja Osallistu Pohjois-Karjalassa (ELO) project is a collaboration between North Karelia’s municipalities and the Regional Council of North Karelia, and it will be carried out between 01 January 2025 and 30 June 2027. The key objective of the project is to improve the availability of labour in the region and to support the integration and settlement in North Karelia of new residents from abroad.

The project aims to strengthen integration and settlement services, so that new residents will have an easier time establishing roots in the local community. This includes the development of practical support measures, such as language courses, employment opportunities and social integration, which will help immigrants adapt and find their place in the region.

The ELO project is a significant step towards a more diverse and vibrant North Karelia, where all residents can actively participate in local affairs and develop their own lives. The project is expected to improve the attractiveness and competitiveness of the region, which will benefit new residents as well as local businesses and communities.

Project Objectives

• Target groups: The ELO project targets people who have immigrated to Finland for various reasons, such as those who have arrived in the country for work, family reasons or studies, beneficiaries of protection and quota refugees.

• Developing services: the goal is to develop integration and relocation services regionally and locally to provide immigrants with the support and guidance they need.

• Strengthening collaboration: The ELO project aims to improve collaboration between local and regional actors, the operation of networks and customer inclusion.

• Networking: the project collaborates closely with the Work in North Karelia (WINK) project, which aims to promote the employment and integration of international talent in North Karelia.

Links

The ELO Project’s Communications Plan in Lieksa (in Finnish)

Link between the ELO and WiNK Projects

The ELO project and the WiNK – Work in North Karelia project are closely tied to each other, because both of them focus on improving the availability of labour and the integration of immigrants. The WiNK project supports the objectives of the ELO project by providing networks and resources to promote the employment of international talent. The ELO project is financed by the European Social Fund, and its total funding will not exceed EUR 1,432, 728, of which the Lieksa sub-project will receive a maximum of EUR 120,360.

The ELO project provides an opportunity for all residents, employers and organisations in the region to participate in the integration process of immigrants. The aim is to turn Lieksa into a community where everyone feels welcome and appreciated.

For more information on the WiNK project, please see this post on Job Market Finland.