A lot of good is being done in Finnish society at the moment. Individuals and companies have donated millions of euros to help Ukrainians. People are ready to give a huge amount of clothes, supplies and time. It is with great joy and pride that we follow this activity in Moniheli.
At the same time, we see the contradictory reactions that the situation provokes around us. Our member organisations represent many nationalities and cultures that have been affected by conflicts and whose citizens have been forced to flee their homelands to Finland. These people understand the situation of Ukrainians better than many others, having themselves fled the war. However, the social debate is currently filled with statements that justify the compassion shown to Ukrainians by exacerbating stereotypes about other refugees. No one should feel that their plight is belittled on the basis of their skin colour or ethnicity.
We understand these feelings. Moniheli has also reacted more strongly to the situation in Ukraine than to previous international conflicts. Reflecting on our actions has made us realise the structural racism and selective empathy that we ourselves have practised and which also affects Moniheli's decision-making.
This week is anti-racism week. It is a particularly good time to reflect on the prejudices that are ingrained in our culture and that affect our actions even if we don't want them to. Only by acknowledging and recognising the selectivity of our actions can we change and improve. We encourage social actors to courageously question their own assumptions and systematically examine their actions.
It's great that so many people have stepped up to help the refugees arriving from Ukraine. The arrival of the conflict on our continent has understandably made many Finns reflect on their own values, and at the same time sensitised us to react strongly to the situation in Ukraine. The wave of empathy and solidarity that has followed is a powerful sign of the ability of Finns to care and help. The distress and suffering of all people are worth the same.
At Monihel, we hope that this experience will enable us to better identify with the plight of others, and thus be more willing to help people as human beings, regardless of their country of origin. There are many conflicts going on in the world today, and people fleeing them need refuge. The reception of refugees plays a crucial role in their integration. By creating a positive atmosphere, we ensure that all refugees have an equal opportunity to integrate and participate in building Finnish society. We hope that this crisis will lead to a lasting change in our attitude towards refugees, towards a more solidarity-based approach.
Moniheli ry
