“I want to be the person who listens” – Community counsellor helps international students adapt   

When Banafshe Esharagi, originally from Iran, moved to Finland five years ago, she did not know exactly where her career would lead. Now, she works at HAMK as a community counsellor, helping students find their place in a new environment. 

Before coming to Finland, Banafshe studied psychology in her home country of Iran and worked with children in various organizations. She ended up at the University of Helsinki to study educational sciences. 

Over the years, she realized that her language and cultural background are also strengths. There is a large Farsi-speaking community in Finland, and she wanted to support immigrants. 

“I wanted to work with people whose stories I understand,” Banafshe says. 

About six months ago, three community counsellors started working at HAMK, with Banafshe being one of them. The counsellors have divided their work by campus, and Banafshe’s areas are Mustiala and Forssa. 

In Forssa, we are very active, and we strive for the same in Tammela.

The work of community counsellors is diverse, but its core is clear: support and presence for international students. 

“We give students the feeling that they are seen and heard. We are physically present, not just available by email or phone. We build trust so that students dare to come to us with their challenges.” 

The community counsellor acts as a link between students and campus well-being services, but also with actors outside HAMK. The shared interest is to help international students integrate into the region. 

“We cooperate with the city, immigration services, and organizations. In Forssa, we are very active, and we strive for the same in Tammela.” 

In addition, the community counsellors, together with HAMK’s career services, organize workshops and information sessions that students are encouraged to attend. 

The most common challenges are easy to name 

Loneliness and a sense of exclusion are the most common concerns she encounters. 

“I try first of all to show that I am also a human being and have experienced the same things. Secondly, I try to organize events and activities that increase community spirit and bring Finnish and international students together.” 

According to Banafshe’s experience, Finnish and international students want to get to know each other, but shyness and schedules can prevent meetings. 

When an activity interests both groups and the information is shared on time, it works best. On smaller campuses, finding the right time is a challenge.” 

Currently, she is especially focusing on first-year students, who have the most questions and challenges. 

“But all students are our target group – we want to support everyone.” 

Having now been in her position for about six months, she says that what is most needed is more people involved. There are many needs, but there is always a shortage of active contributors. In the bigger picture, she would like to make it easier for newcomers to find employment. 

“People do not want to be idle; they want to be useful and do something meaningful. In a country like Finland, work connects you to a community, and you meet people from outside your own culture or other immigrants. However, it is really slow and sometimes frustrating, I know this from my own experience,” Banafshe says. 

That’s why she finds herself as a Bettermaker in this very role: she feels she is doing something meaningful when she can make an international student feel helped and welcomed. 

More on the topic