KOLUMNIT — COLUMNS
FROM THE EDITOR
A HUNDRED REASONS TO CELEBRATE FINLAND This is a year of celebration for
country, with a myriad of events
all Finns and friends of Finland.
from concerts, exhibitions and
Finland is a real success story.
other cultural events to semi-
Nobody could have anticipated
nars, workshops and street fes-
this in 1917, when our country
tivals. These events are mostly
gained independence. Or even
organized by volunteers and
50 years ago. I was ten years old
underscore the diversity of the
when we celebrated 50 years of
Finnish community in the U.S.
independence. In every school,
Some of the themes that we
2017 marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Ful-
there was an essay competition,
have decided to focus on in our
bright agreement between Finland and the United States.
including my little village school
celebrations
In preparation for this anniversary, the two governments
in Northern Finland. I wish I
D.C., are the Finnish education
renewed their commitment to the scientific and educa-
had saved that essay! A fir tree
system, our fantastic design
tional exchange between our countries and paved the way
was planted in the grounds of all
and architecture talents, as well
for their future development by signing a document that
official buildings and many pri-
as “snow how”. The latter ties
legally established Fulbright Finland as a not-for-profit
vate homes as well. Finland was
in well with the Arctic Council
foundation based in Helsinki. As a foundation, we stand
still poor in comparison to our
Chairmanship which we took
stronger to promote a wider exchange of knowledge and
Nordic neighbors, but well on its
over from the United States this
professional talent through educational and scholarly con-
way to growing into what we are
May. This is one particular area
tacts between Finland and the United States.
today. Like the fir trees.
in which we look forward to col-
in
Washington,
This year we are also celebrating the Centennial of Fin-
Our history has been diffi-
land’s independence with special events and initiatives on
cult at times, and that is why we
both sides of the Atlantic. Our invited columnist, Ambas-
truly appreciate what we have
I am joining several centen-
sador of Finland to the United States Kirsti Kauppi, gives
today. The newly independent
nial events in the United States.
us a hundred reasons to celebrate Finland (p. 2), and Emilia
Finland survived a civil war,
The year was kicked off in Min-
Honkasaari from the Finnish Embassy in Washington talks
and two decades later the Sec-
neapolis in January where I inau-
about the Embassy’s commemoration with Fulbright (p. 5).
ond World War embroiled us.
gurated the Traveling Sauna, Sisu,
The 600 active members of our alumni in the United States,
After this, Finland had to rebuild
a wonderful centennial mascot
the Friends of Fulbright Finland, also have their own centen-
and reinvent itself. The coun-
which will travel around the U.S.
nial initiative, and this is part of the official Suomi Finland
try decided to focus and invest
It is a real Finnish sauna, travel-
100 program coordinated by the Prime Minister’s office (p. 4).
in one of its best resources: our
ing from west to east, north to
While celebrating the past we embrace the future. Our
people. I believe this investment
south, and ending up in Wash-
Board’s vision for Fulbright Finland is to empower the minds
has much to do with the fact
ington, D.C., in December. I hope
that will find global solutions to tomorrow’s challenges. Minister
that now, year after year, Fin-
you follow Sisu on its website, and
for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini recently observed that rel-
land tops various rankings that
that you also acquaint yourselves
evance and high impact are characteristic of Fulbright Fin-
measure things such as equal-
with the other interesting mate-
land programs (p. 6). We have just returned from the Arctic
ity, transparency, competitive-
rials we have on our webpages
interchange week in Fairbanks, Alaska, where the United
ness, innovativeness and press
and social media sites. There are
States passed the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council to
freedom. In one of the rankings
wonderful video greetings from
Finland. Fulbright Finland brought there a ten-member
we are at the bottom: we are the
a variety of personalities, as well
expert delegation representing Finnish higher education
least fragile state in the world!
as a 12 part Story of Finland about
and research for an intense one-week study tour program to advance Arctic cooperation (p. 8). In the midst of today’s turbulent world news, I am filled
laborating closely in the coming years with the United States.
I am particularly happy that
our history. There is something
Finns see themselves and their
for everybody, throughout the
country as part of the bigger
year!
with a renewed sense of commitment for all that the Ful-
global
par-
We hope that many Ful-
bright program represents: the transformational power
ticipate actively in strengthen-
brighters and alumni will join
achieved through international educational and schol-
ing security and prosperity in
our centennial celebrations!
arly exchange, and building bridges of understanding.
the world at large. The theme
Our countries and societies need people who can bridge
“Together” suits our centen-
divides and create collaboration across borders. Fulbright
nial celebration perfectly in this
was established to create global citizens – those who dare
regard as well. Finland has suc-
to address universal problems with innovative solutions,
ceeded because we have worked
and create meaningful change. I want to sincerely thank
together and built our country
our grantees and alumni for all they do and for helping us
together. We continue to work
keep our eyes on our mission. As we witness a new cohort of
together with our Nordic neigh-
grantees from Finland join the cadres of these “movers and
bors, with our EU and transatlan-
shakers” (p. 6) it is time to remember why we do what we
tic partners and with the global
do. Today, we need Fulbrighters and the Fulbright program
community as a whole.
- perhaps more than ever before.
community.
We
This year our goal in the United States is to celebrate the
Kirsti Kauppi
Terhi Mölsä
centennial together with all
Ambassador of Finland
Chief Executive Officer
friends of Finland, all around the
to the United States