Vamos Kuopio – A bridge of support for youth and immigrants in North Savo

Vamos Kuopio, part of the nationwide Vamos program by the Helsinki Deaconess Foundation (Diakonissalaitos), operates as a dynamic international community center serving the North Savo region of Finland. Its mission is to support youth aged 16–35 who are at risk of social exclusion, unemployment, or struggling with mental health, education, or integration challenges.

“We are mostly supporting the youth regarding career steps, and we are doing group activities to enhance the social skills, integration and getting new friends, and practice different skills including Finnish language skills”, says Gürhan Bayramoglu, Project manager and Career coach.

Services through youth coaching and mentoring

With a strong emphasis on personalized coaching and holistic support, Vamos Kuopio provides a welcoming, low-threshold environment where young people can discover their strengths and take steps toward a brighter future. The center’s work is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and empowerment—creating an inclusive community where everyone’s path is valued.

Key services include NUOTTI coaching, which supports 16–30-year-olds with reduced functional capacity in cooperation with Kela. The Vamos Startti program offers group coaching and individual sessions to re-engage youth with education or working life. Through the Vamos Career project, tailored support is provided to immigrants and multicultural youth seeking employment or training, including support for employers to build inclusive workplaces.

Individual coaching is also available for 15–35-year-olds (not strict), ensuring a customized approach that respects each person’s situation, goals, and pace.

“I have not yet achieved what I need (a job), but it has been satisfying and encouraging to see the amount of effort that is being put by Vamos Kuopio into helping me”, says Leslie Mbunda, an international client at Vamos Kuopio.

Safe and welcoming community space for international youth

“Vamos Kuopio is a safe place for everyone, and we try to create a non-bureaucratic, home friendly and relaxed atmosphere so that when people come here, we guide them and they know that there is someone who cares about them”, says Natalia Romanova, Career coach at Vamos Kuopio.

As a community center, Vamos Kuopio fosters meaningful relationships and encourages social participation. The team works in partnership with local organizations, municipalities, and employers to build a supportive ecosystem for youth.

What makes Vamos Kuopio unique is its combination of local impact and global relevance. By supporting immigrants and culturally diverse youth, it serves as a model of integration, equity, and human dignity.

“Our activities at Vamos Kuopio are free and voluntary to everyone, so anyone can just come and leave, and come again as they wish”, says Bayramoglu.

In North Savo and beyond, Vamos Kuopio is more than a service—it is a movement of hope, change, and belonging.

“If they (locals and internationals in Kuopio) have any problem, they can come and share it with us, and we will do our best to guide and help them”, says Romanova.

Learn more at Vamos Kuopio’s official page

Text: Ezekiel Kuhoga

Photos: Kuhoga Pictures

The series about international communities is part of Talent First’s efforts to support the integration of international professionals into the region. For the series, a video introduction was created for each community. You can watch all the videos on YouTube.