My World II

The exhibition showcases the stories of 16 highly educated immigrant women, focusing on themes of equality, inclusion, and equity in Finland. Each story sharer is paired with a jewelry professional—such as a jewelry artist, designer, or goldsmith—who collaborates with them to create pieces inspired by their stories. The exhibition was organized in partnership with Väestöliitto.

The story sharers come from various parts of the world and live across Finland. What connects them is that they are all highly educated women who have immigrated to Finland. Their reasons for moving vary: some came as refugees, others for love, studies, work, safety, education, or gender equality. In Finland, women can pursue careers without societal judgment.

However, the job market poses challenges for immigrant women. To secure employment, they must learn the language, validate their qualifications, and navigate the Finnish job application system. From an integration perspective, finding a job is crucial.

The stories and jewelry pieces address topics like Finnish racism, job searching, societal acceptance, well-being, feelings of exclusion, perseverance, success, and belief in one’s values. These narratives convey strong emotions related to the experience of inclusion. Many story sharers have rooted themselves in Finnish culture and have much to contribute to Finnish society and the workforce.

The jewelry in the exhibition carries a powerful message. The story sharers were found through Väestöliitto’s networks, and some have participated in Väestöliitto's Womento mentoring program, where volunteer mentors from the same professional fields assist with understanding the Finnish job market, building networks, and job searching. Jewelry professionals for the project were recruited through an open application process. The story sharers and jewelry makers did not know each other beforehand and met for the first time during the exhibition process. By sharing personal and sensitive aspects of their lives, the storytellers display great courage and openness. Meanwhile, the jewelry professionals aim to use their skills to promote immigrant integration and bring their stories to life through the language of jewelry.