The multiregional URI CC Faiths Without Borders (Uskot ilman rajoja ry.) and Daisy Ladies ry. published a book called Flikat maailman Turuilta last autumn. The book is produced within the framework of ENIL (The European Network for Intergenerational Learning) and it goes with the EU´s European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012, which seeks to foster a sustainable active ageing culture. The year also wants to embrace the notion of intergenerational solidarity.
"Active ageing" means better education and lifelong learning, age-friendly working conditions, and supporting the role of older people in family life and society as a whole.
The book Flikat maailman Turuilta presents twenty interviews with women from different cultures and religions who answer questions about things learnt within families, from older generations, and about how the things they have learnt helped them through life. The family atmosphere, their values and attitudes affect how new immigrants adjust to living in their new country.
The book was written in Finnish and in English by Hülya Kytö and Heidi Rautionmaa.
“Attitude toward the other, ourselves and the whole world are learnt in families. We might protest the things learnt from our parents but our parents have affected our life anyway. Parents, other adults and children should discuss more with each other about the big questions in life. It is important to think together what different concepts mean such as justice, dignity, community, responsibility, equality, honest, care for the other. Religious education usually starts at home” says Heidi Rautionmaa.
"And while the basic things of life are learnt at home, environment is also highly important. Social support networks help and bring different cultures closer to each other."
The ministry of Education and Culture in Finland has supported Faiths Wihout Borders ( Uskot ilman rajoja ry.) with its project related to lifelong learning and family learning.
