Statement by the Board of House of Helsinki ry on the Conclusion of the REFUFIN Project

Conclusion of REFUFIN Project Activities

The Board of House of Helsinki ry announces that the REFUFIN project will conclude its activities on 11 February 2026. After this date, all services provided within the framework of the REFUFIN project will be closed.

REFUFIN 2023–2025 was a project aimed at providing guidance, counselling, and integration support to people who fled the war in Ukraine and are currently residing in Finland. The services were delivered by trained volunteers and coordinated by two full-time employees. The project was funded by STEA (Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations) for the period 2023–2025, with funding formally ending in March 2026.

After exploring all available options, we've found that recent STEA funding reductions and our efforts to secure alternative government support have not provided the financial foundation needed to continue providing services at the quality level our participants deserve. Following thoughtful deliberation, the Board of House of Helsinki ry has made the difficult decision to bring the REFUFIN project to a close, as we are committed to operating responsibly and sustainably.

Background and Development of REFUFIN

REFUFIN was initiated in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The project was rapidly initiated by volunteers and, as early as March 2022, became part of House of Helsinki ry, an organisation dedicated to promoting two-way integration.

During its first year, REFUFIN focused primarily on emergency response activities. In 2022, volunteers coordinated free transportation for people fleeing the war and seeking safety in Finland. Through these efforts, more than 3,000 people were safely transported to Finland with the support of REFUFIN volunteers.

In 2023, following the receipt of three-year STEA funding, REFUFIN significantly updated and expanded its activities. The project became one of the core projects of House of Helsinki ry and began providing three main forms of support to people from Ukraine across Finland:

• Online support, where individuals could seek guidance and integration-related assistance from trained volunteers;

• Offline, face-to-face support, including meeting newcomers at harbours and airports by tukihenkilö (support person) volunteers when accessing public services such as banks, Kela, and Migri;

• Information services, including the production and dissemination of up-to-date materials on legislation, rights, and available services for people from Ukraine.

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In 2024–2025, REFUFIN also conducted a mapping of the needs of people who fled the war in Ukraine and are now living in Finland. The project team organised several events to present and discuss the key findings of this work.

Read the mapping report here 

Impact of the Project

Over the course of four years (3.2022-2.2026), REFUFIN:

• Trained more than 200 volunteers

• Provided over 9,000 online consultations

• Supported more than 4,000 people through face-to-face assistance

The number of support requests increased annually, clearly demonstrating that people from Ukraine living in Finland continue to need guidance, counselling, and integration support. According to REFUFIN’s needs mapping, over 60 percent of respondents indicated that they plan to remain in Finland even if returning to Ukraine becomes safe.

Beyond its quantitative impact, REFUFIN developed into more than a service-providing project. Over the years, the REFUFIN volunteer programme grew into a mindful and values-based community united by a shared mission of solidarity, responsibility, and two-way integration.

For many volunteers, particularly those with a migrant background, participation in REFUFIN became an important pathway to integration. The programme offered opportunities to build social networks, develop practical and professional skills, gain relevant experience, and strengthen future career prospects. Through their engagement, volunteers found new connections, new friendships, and, for many, new beginnings in Finland.

Through the REFUFIN volunteer community, both volunteers and those they supported were able to feel more connected to Finnish society and more at home in Finland. This community dimension became one of the project’s most meaningful and lasting impacts.

Reflections and Future Outlook

Despite the demonstrated need and impact, the Board of House of Helsinki ry has concluded that the REFUFIN project cannot be continued without stable funding. Through our experience, we have learned that REFUFIN is a crisis-response project by nature. Maintaining service quality, safeguarding volunteer well-being, and ensuring ethical and sustainable operations requires at least two full-time employees, as well as continuous and close involvement from the organisation’s board.

We do not consider it safe or responsible to continue this work solely on a voluntary basis. Crisis support of this scale and intensity requires professional coordination, stable structures, and long-term resources.

In light of the current funding situation, House of Helsinki ry has therefore decided to conclude the REFUFIN project and take a pause in these activities. This pause allows the organisation to reflect on the extensive work accomplished and the invaluable experience gained, and to regain strength and inspiration to develop new projects and forms of activity in line with its mission in the future.

Words of Gratitude

The Board of House of Helsinki ry expresses its deepest gratitude to everyone who made the REFUFIN project possible.

We extend our sincere thanks to the project employees, Darya Gulik and Nikolay Gofman. The dedication, professionalism, and care you brought to this work cannot be adequately captured in words. Your contribution has had a lasting impact on thousands of people.

We are profoundly grateful to all REFUFIN volunteers. Without your time, commitment, empathy, and courage, none of this work would have been possible. You stood beside people in moments of uncertainty and crisis, offering support, dignity, and human connection.

We also thank the steering group (ohjausryhmä) for your guidance, expertise, and professional support throughout the project’s implementation.

Finally, we thank all funders, partners, stakeholders, and supporters who trusted and collaborated with REFUFIN and House of Helsinki ry over the years.

REFUFIN has shown what is possible when solidarity, professionalism, and humanity come together. This work will remain an important part of the organisation’s history and collective memory.

Board of House of Helsinki ry