Duo Mother & Baby groups

Familia's ​Duo Mother & Baby groups are informal discussion groups in which mothers and under 1-year-old babies of intercultural families can meet, talk and share experiences with each other. All mothers of intercultural families - Finnish and foreign - are welcome to participate. In one group there is space for approx. 8 adults. The group meets once a week for about two months.

More information
“What I liked the most was getting to meet other mothers and gain new knowledge on life in Finland as a multicultural family.”
 

About Duo Mother & Baby groups

Duo Mother & Baby groups are informal discussion groups in which mothers and babies can meet, talk and share experiences with each other. All mothers of intercultural families - Finnish and foreign - are welcome to participate. The groups are facilitated by volunteers (in pairs) who are also mothers of intercultural families. Each group lasts about two months (6-8 weekly meetings) and there is space for approx. 8 adults. Duo Mother & Baby groups are closed groups, which means that a registration to the group is required and new particpants cannot be taken into the group once it has started. All the participants commit to take part in the meetings. 

Mother & Baby groups have been popular and the feedback received form earlier groups has been very positive. In the groups mothers and babies have a chance to meet each other and make new friends. Mothers also get to share information and experiences with others living in a same situation in Finland. 

Mother & Baby groups can be organised anywhere in Finland!
Familia offers support and materials for volunteers all around Finland. Volunteers who cannot come and meet us face-to-face will be trained online (using, for example, Skype). Appointments for the training will be scheduled individually. The Mother & Baby groups can thus be organised anywhere in Finland!
“Good atmosphere, friendly people. Participants seemed to genuinely like each other." 
“ I really enjoyed the open discussion and information exchange about giving birth, situation at home, relationship towards husband and baby.”
 

Interested in volunteering and organising your own group?

WHAT
Duo Mother & Baby groups are facilitated by volunteers (in pairs) who are also mothers of intercultural families. There are 6-10 members in a group. Each group has at least six weekly meetings (the overall duration of the group can be decided by the organisers of the group). Each meeting lasts 1,5-2 hours. 

WHERE
You can ask for a place for your Mother & Baby group meetings from your local associations and organisations. Mothers living in and around the metropolitan area can ask for a meeting place from Familia. When choosing the place for the meetings you need to make sure that the place is suitable for babies and that it has all the facilities needed during the meetings. 

HOW
Familia offers a compact introduction and support package as well as a facilitator's manual and material for the volunteers. Familia can also help in advertising the group. If you are interested in organising a Mother & Baby group, please fill in the application form. 

Please consider the following points before filling in the application:
  • With whom are you going to organise the group with (who is your pair)?
  • In what language is the group organised?
  • When would your group meet and which weekdays and times best suit you?
  • Where could your group meetings take place?
 

Yes, I'm interested in facilitating a group, sign me up!