Registration for the friendship programme is now open: A local friend can help Finland feel more like home
HAMK’s international friendship programme brings together international students and local residents. Registration for the programme is open until 30 September 2026.
HAMK’s international friendship programme is available in all areas where HAMK has a campus. You can join on your own, with a friend, as a Finnish student or as a family. Participation is voluntary and open to anyone aged 18 or over who is interested in making new international friends.
A new friendship doesn’t have to start with anything grand, nor does a local friend need to organise a special programme. Getting to know each other can start with a coffee, a walk, a visit to a museum or just a casual chat.
You don’t need a particular background or perfect English to take part. All you need is an openness to getting to know someone new and sharing ordinary moments of everyday life.
HAMK’s international students come from dozens of different countries, such as Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Slovakia and Estonia. Last autumn, 171 people from across our campus locations took part in the International Friendship Programme. The largest number of pairs were formed in Hämeenlinna, and nearly 100 people attended the launch event – international students, local residents and their families.
Pirjo and Chethana share a sense of humour
Wanninayake Mudiyanselage Chethana joined the Friendship Programme because she hoped to find a local friend in Finland, someone she could be herself with, talk to naturally and do ordinary things with.
Pirjo Pelto and Chethana met for the first time at the Friendship Programme kick-off event. The connection was easy from the beginning, and their friendship has grown through laughter, humour and time spent together.
“With Pirjo, I can try new things and still feel completely myself. Knowing that I have someone here in Finland who supports me makes it easier to feel at home.”
For Pirjo, the friendship has also offered a new way to look at Finland. Things that may feel ordinary to a local, such as snow, frozen lakes, Finnish nature and small everyday moments, can feel special to someone who is new to the country.
Through Chethana, I have started to see Finland with new eyes.
“Through Chethana, I have started to see Finland with new eyes. It is meaningful to notice how much joy simple things like snowflakes, frozen lakes or making pulla together can bring.”
The friendship has also extended to their spouses. Their meetings have become relaxed moments where the whole group can talk, laugh and enjoy spending time together.
Being a local friend does not mean being responsible for entertaining someone. Coffee, a walk, cooking together, a local event or a simple conversation can already mean a lot.
Once the registration period has closed, HAMK staff will match international students who have registered for the programme with those who have signed up to be friends. We will do our best to take into account the preferences indicated by participants during registration. After this, an initial meeting will be held on campus, where participants in the friendship programme will agree amongst themselves how they intend to meet in future and exchange contact details.
HAMK’s international Friendship Programme
- Brings together local residents and HAMK’s international students
- To help students familiarise themselves with everyday life, culture and local customs in Finland, and to expand their support network in Finland
- It enables local participants to learn about new cultures, practise their language skills and, where appropriate, discuss professional matters as well.
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