This presentation is from the North South Platform Meeting of one of the world's largest international volunteering organisations, Service Civil International. The presentation was given by Lena Kumpulainen from the International Unit of the Finnish Refugee Council (FRC). The presentation was specifically related to the communication methods used between the FRC and its country offices and partners in the South. FRC works in Finland as well as countries such as Uganda, Sierra Leone, and Thailand. Their focus is on education. They are mainly funded by the Finnish Department of Foreign Affairs. Most of their projects are implemented in cooperation with partner organisations. Lena also explained the external communication between FRC and the Finnish public. FRC not only distributes information on its projects but also on the refugee situation and the current affairs of the countries in which it works. This is done through a magazine and educational materials for school, amongst other publications. Their facebook page has been increasingly popular. This has led to an increase in visitors to the main website itself. In relation to fundraising, FRC has an entire website dedicated to selling gifts in order to raise funds (www.parempilahja.fi). On this site people can buy gifts such as t-shirts, or fund the salary of a teacher. For more information on FRC visit their website at www.pakolaisapu.fi/en/

1. Communication in Finnish Refugee Council Spice it up! Volunteering with immigrants 6 th October 2010, Päivölä, Finland

3. FRC works with refugees in Finland and in South 7.10.2010

8. Education is an important factor in reducing poverty and building peace and especially important in the development of an individual and communities during and after the refugee time 7.10.2010

9. FRC focuses on adult and youth education and specifically on functional adult literacy. 12.01.11

23. www.pakolaisapu.fi THANK YOU! www.parempilahja.fi