Welcome to Helsinki

The word about the opening of the new Roma day centre in Helsinki spread very quickly, attracting hundreds of new Roma gypsies, mainly from Bulgaria.

The center, which goes by the name Hirundo (swallow in Latin), is open for four hours a day every weekday. During that time the guests can take showers do their laundry, charge their mobiles, have coffee and use the internet. Some residents of the area have complained about the center which used to be a homeless service center. As a matter of fact previously the city’s Roma went mainly to the Finnish Roma Kaalo day center for services.

 According to the workers the new center was opened as a result of growing tension between police and the Roma community, as several Roma camps have recently been dismantled. As a matter of fact the city ordinances does not allow camping without permission.

The center, financed by the Deaconness Institute and the Helsinki city administration, seems to be a sort of compromise between the Roma community and the city administration.