CHAFF meeting on Sunday

With the weather becoming more skiing-type, with the sun peeping out in normal hours again, and the temperature slowly creeping up to the -5 C mark, many of our regular participants were out enjoying the new freedom. Others were travelling around Finland and the world.

Bill (China) went skiing with his Chinese friends. Ildikó (Hungary) and Ilari (Finland) were in Helsinki. Pentti (Finland) was in Masala in South Finland visiting his daughter, Isaac (India/USA) is still in the US. Tingting (China) was on a business trip in China, Kaija (Finland) was enjoying her much earned holiday. Anais (France) was enjoying a day of rest. Kamu's (Zambia) son, Matti was unwell.

David (Kenya) and I spent our time usefully concentrated on discussing the major topic - what we should add to the letter framed by Ata Bos (The Netherlands) as to how to help foreigners in Oulu.

I felt we should not just think of foreigners, as the problems that lie ahead of us foreigners also afflict many Finns. It also spreads across the entire age spectrum.

For instance, a big problem facing all age groups is the one regarding money, employment, apprenticeships, and as summer approaches, summer jobs.

14 year old Soda (Thailand), who was sitting in on this week's meeting, wants a summer job to earn a little money, which is his money.

I explained that things have changed over the years.

When our son, Mika, was a small boy (11-13 years) in Oulu he used to do the paper round. He also did shoe-shining in the central park in Oulu. These jobs, as summer jobs for children have vanished. Shoe-shining is now not even considered as being worth doing, even though in those days it was not meant as a summer job but something to help a charitable organisation. But it instilled the important trait of the dignity of labour, however menial it may have appeared.

Paper delivery has developed into a full time job for many immigrants unable to find any other type of fixed employment.

The contracts for ice cream kiosks that spring up around Oulu in summer are appropriated by various local clubs and associations who then give the responsibility to a few of their members. Daughter Joanna did it one year. Another year she worked as a helper in the Beach Cafe in Nallikari.

A whole new system has to develop so as to create summer jobs as well as jobs for Finns and foreigners.

I suggested that this is what we should put forward as our constructive suggestion from CHAFF to the City of Oulu via the letter being drafted by all the immigrant, refugees and ethnic group organisations who are co-operating to look at the problems faced by foreigners in Oulu.

The second issue about the CHAFF Help Fund to help people in distress has been considered novel and important by several CHAFF participants. Some have started pledging support from as low as Euro 30 to as much as Euro 1000.

We have to walk before we run.

I am glad that the idea has taken root. The next step should be to formalise CHAFF into a body, set up the articles of the organisation to ensure that it can engage in such an activity as running a HELP FUND and set up checks and balances to ensure that this is monitored in a manner which ensures there can be no hint of any financial impropriety. Only then should CHAFF go about accepting deposits and the more important task of helping people in distress. Kamu (Zambia) had strong views about the methodologies to be adopted.

Thank you to the many who have given a vote of confidence in this idea. As I replied to one person who said that she could only offer Euro 30, even Euro 1 could be a large sum of money to a person in dire distress.

I must say that even the time we give one another can be more valuable than money in many instances. A loving word to a person under mental stress can work wonders. And that is what CHAFF is about!

I will inform you about the time and place for our next meeting. Suffice to say I had a call from Kannan (India) who will be travelling in from Rauma to attend the meeting!

Tingting has been out shopping in a large department store in China and will join us next week. Hopefully a Thai lady married to a Finn, a good friend of Tingting, will also be joining us next week. A young German microbiologist, new to Oulu, may also be joining us next week.

I also have to report that due to Chinese censorship, our CHAFF blog is not readable in China. Chilli (China), who returned there last week, emailed me that she was unable to access it! She sends her very best wishes to all CHAFF participants.

See you all soon - and do not forget to look at the problem about the area-changing triangles on Jacob's Blog.