As part of The U2VET Work Package 3, Preliminary Education, Sedu Lapua piloted a range of practical activities for Ukrainian students. Education was extended beyond the classroom, and by giving students opportunities to create, participate, communicate and contribute to their local community, the activities helped strengthen both their Finnish language skills and their sense of belonging.
During the 2025–2026 academic year, 21 Ukrainian students aged 15–20 studied in the TUVA group at Sedu Lapua. The TUVA programme provides preparatory education for students who need support before moving on to vocational education or upper secondary studies. Under the guidance of Finnish language teacher Riitta Luoma, students took part in a variety of activities both at Sedu and in cooperation with local organisations and the wider community.
- A common goal of the activities was to create authentic situations where students could use Finnish, meet new people and take an active role in their local community. The activities also provided opportunities to practice teamwork, communication and working-life skills. The feedback showed that students particularly valued working together, meeting new people and feeling that their contribution was meaningful, Riitta says.
Stepping outside the classroom
The students stepped outside the classroom to make Christmas decorations at Sedu workshops and later worked at Sedu’s Christmas market, where they helped set up the event and practiced selling products and interacting with customers. They also created a Christmas exhibition at Lapua Library, combining Finnish and Ukrainian traditions and encouraging visitors to participate.
Other activities focused on communication, wellbeing and exploring educational opportunities. At Teatteri Lapua, students practised different forms of communication through drama and group exercises. At a wellbeing fair organised by practical nursing students, they learned about health and wellbeing while communicating with Finnish-speaking students. The pilot also included a visit to Sedu’s Ähtäri campus, where the students explored forestry education and met other Ukrainian students.
The activities were coordinated in close cooperation with local partners and was supported by regular meetings between Sedu, the City of Lapua and other organisations. These meetings focused on issues such as integration, employment, leisure activities and support services for Ukrainians living in the area.
Small efforts can make a change
- The experiences from the activities showed, that meaningful participation does not always require strong language skills, Riitta explains.
Hands-on activities and working together made it possible for students to participate even when their Finnish was still developing. As their language skills improved, they were able to take part in more varied interactions, such as customer service and conversations with local people.
For many students, perhaps the most important outcome was the feeling that their contribution mattered. The pilot demonstrated how small, practical opportunities to participate can help young people build confidence, language skills and a stronger sense of belonging in their new community.
Text: Riitta Luoma and Juha Riippi
