Turning job rejections into art: Empowering migrants in Finland

Turning job rejections into art: Empowering migrants in Finland

Like many of you, I am fed up with the constant job rejections, wondering what I'm doing wrong, and banging my head against the wall. I have attended LinkedIn workshops, received job coaching, done CV workshops, and "networked", but it never seems to be enough.

While sobbing into a pillow after receiving my 3rd job rejection of the day, I said to my husband, "The only career I will have, at this rate, is as a contemporary artist in Kiasma with my exhibition of thousands of job rejections." Then, this workshop idea was born.

I want participants in a similar situation as me, to print out their job rejections, and bring them to this workshop where we will turn them into something beautiful. Then, at the end, we will assemble our piñata, stuff it with candy, and smash it with a bat. Cathartic--I know.

• Printed job rejections - printing is available at most public libraries. NOTE: Please blur or blot out any personal information in the printed emails to protect the confidentiality of you and the sender.
• Apron or clothes you can get dirty

The workshop is open to all, however, the target group is those who have been struggling with chronic unemployment and come from a foreign-born background

This workshop series will take place over 2 weekends plus a final event where we will smash our creation.

• Saturday, October 5 - Preparing our materials and begin work on our paper maché piñatas
• Sunday, October 6 - Continuing with our piñatas by Adding a 2nd and 3rd layer of paste and paper.
• Saturday, October 12 - Paint our piñatas
• Sunday, October 13 - Assemble
• Friday, October 25th - We will gather to talk about our creation and then smash it! More details are TBA :)

MIELI Without Borders is grassroots, migrant-led organization that is dedicated to destigmatizing and spreading awareness about migrant-mental health through community action. Check us out --> mieliwithoutborders.fi

MITTI organizes groups, workshops, courses, and events to support mental health and well-being. Our community loves music, dance, food, conversations, languages, stories, art, movement, culture, and different opinions. We work for equality, diversity, and human commonness, and believe that connection is a key for overcoming prejudice. Check out MITTI --> https://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti/

Hi! My name is Hope and I am originally from New Mexico, USA, but I have been living in Finland for the last 8 years. I am a licensed social worker (sosionomi) and have been struggling to find work, on-and-off for the last 4 years.

I was passionate about founding MIELI Without Borders because of how the integration process negatively impacted my mental health and well-being. I was unable to find adequate resources or support in the language I needed. Additionally, I saw little to no coverage about how immigration, joblessness, and mental health intersect.

I have been on the board for the last 2 years and am passionate about community action and spreading awareness about the impacts of immigration and unemployment on mental health and well-being.

Let's connect on LinkedIn!

Host or Publisher MIELI Without Borders