The Story of Finland - Building a Resilient Society

Çağatay Bayraktar from 24 Saat, which is the news outlet of the Association of Journalists, participated “the Story of Finland - Building a Resilient Society” media visit organized by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Here are the impressions from his visit and “Finland as a welfare state” from a young Turkish journalist’s point of view.

Many people are familiar with Finland being ranked as the "happiest country" among OECD countries. For those living outside Finland, this title may evoke a sort of "fairy tale." However, there are some undeniable truths that should not be overlooked. These truths include various factors such as Finland's tax policies, the diversity of culture and the arts, opportunities offered to the youth, and the tranquil lifestyle. During my approximately week-long trip to Helsinki, I had the chance to observe these realities up close.

Particularly, the ongoing freedom of the press in the country, and the efforts journalists make to uphold this freedom, demonstrate how closely linked democracy is with the public's level of well-being. For instance, an organization that could be referred to as a "Press Council," to which journalists are members, directly supports journalists' freedom to report news and facilitates their professional development. The capital, Helsinki, has managed to preserve Finnish culture and its historical essence in today’s world, often described as the era of globalization. In addition, walking through the city, alongside the availability of public transportation and cycling options running until late at night, provides great convenience.

The school visit during my stay further reinforced my belief that this way of life will continue. The
curriculum, which teachers can adapt to students' needs, alongside the opportunity for children to learn not only Finnish but also Swedish, English, and their native languages if they are not Finnish, directly turns them into "global citizens." In fact, the fluent English spoken by every person I talked to while exploring the city is a reflection of this education system. All these factors elevate Finland to the top of the list of countries that not only deserve to be visited but also need to be understood and learned from.