The MyHarrastus campaign encourages Tampere residents with foreign backgrounds to discover new hobbies
This December, Tampere launches the #MyHarrastus campaign, aimed at encouraging residents with foreign backgrounds to explore and find new hobbies for themselves. Information about available hobbies has been compiled on the city’s website.
Tampere launches the #MyHarrastus campaign highlighting the city’s wide range of hobby opportunities, especially for international residents. The campaign will run from 1–28 December 2025.
– For many residents who moved to Finland as adults, the idea of a hobby is a new concept. In many languages there is not even a specific word for it, explains Project Planner Ilaria Tucci from Tampere Welcoming City development program.
Hobbies are an important part of Finnish society and everyday life. They help people settle in and integrate into Finland. Through enjoyable shared activities, it is easy to meet new people. In this way, one’s circle of life expands, and alongside family and work communities, a new leisure-time community emerges. Hobbies also support physical and mental wellbeing, promote learning Finnish, and help people cope with the dark autumn and winter months.
Hobby information online
Information in Finnish and English about different hobbies has been compiled on Tampere’s website:
The site also features four inspiring videos of international Tampere residents who have found a hobby for themselves.
Residents involved in campaign design
International residents have been actively involved in designing the #MyHarrastus campaign, ensuring that their needs, wishes and challenges in accessing hobbies are taken into account.
Language skills can be a barrier for many, and people may feel uncertain if their Finnish is still developing.
– Not all hobbies require extensive language skills. For example, sport or music can be enjoyed together even without a shared language. Taking part in a fun hobby can also improve one’s Finnish, Tucci points out.
– I encourage everyone to look for an interesting hobby in Tampere and give it a try. There are plenty of opportunities here for everyone, Tucci adds.
Associations also welcome to join the campaign
All Tampere-based organisations offering leisure activities are warmly invited to join the #MyHarrastus campaign and share information about their activities.
On social media, hobby opportunities and events can be promoted in easy Finnish and English. By tagging posts and reels with @tamperekaupunki and using the hashtags #MyHarrastus, #OmaHarrastus and #Tampere, content will appear on the campaign’s social media wall.
In Tampere’s event calendar, hobby-related events should be categorised under “Oma harrastus -kampanja” on the Finnish pages and “My Harrastus -campaign” on the English pages. In the hobby calendar, the hashtags #OmaHarrastus (Finnish page) and #MyHarrastus (English page) can be added.
The #MyHarrastus campaign has been carried out in broad collaboration with international residents, local associations, sports clubs and city employees. It is part of the Tampere Welcoming City development program.
