Pedram

19 years oldOriginates from IranLanguages: Azer and FinnishReligion: CatholicHas been living in Finland for 8

years

Family

Mother, a housemother. Dreams of studies for practical nurse and working with the disabled.

Father, an enterpreneur in Iran. In Finland he is now taking horticulture studies. Dreams of a horticulture business where Pedram could also work.

Sister Katrin 16 yearsBrothers Puja 9 yrs, Parsa 6 yrs, Pecsam

3 yrs

Hobbies

Football in summerFloorball in winterTakes part in all the hobbies his

family has

Reasons for migration

Disabled persons had poor possibilities to get healthcare services and education in Iran

Moving to Finland

January 1999From Turkey to Russia,

stayed there for 3 yearsFrom Russia to Finland and Vaasa

EducationStarted special needs education in

Finlandat grade 3, fullfilled compulsory education at the age of 16

Preparatory and rehabilitative education and guidance for work and independent livingat Luovi Vocational Institute, 3 years

Graduated in May 2009Has got rehabilitation allowance

pension

Life in Finland

Starts working at the day activity center in autumn

As a social person Pedram has got many new friends at school

Has only few friends on leisure time

Family has some Finnish friend-families

In Vaasa there are no other Catholic families from Iran

Life in Finland

Feels living in Finland is safe and peaceful

A disabled person can get all the healthcare and welfare services plus education he needs

The biggest problem is the difficult Finnish language

CulturePedram has learned Finnish

culture and lifestyleFamily maintains their own

culture through language, family relationships and satellite channels

Traditions, festival days and cuisine are important ways to maintain the Iranian culture

Future dreams and hopes

”To get a nice job with salary””Girlfriend and a flat of my own””When you get older you can live

alone, without support””I want to maintain contacts with

my fellow-students”

Finnishness

Feels himself to be a FinnGrown up in the Finnish cultureHas Finnish friends