AGEING BEYOND BORDERS 25.3.2026

What does it mean to grow old with dignity when your roots are in a distant land? Through the screening of two documentary films and an insightful panel discussion, we will examine the unique challenges and triumphs of growing old far from one’s country of birth.

Icebreaker Productions invites you to the event Ikääntyminen yli rajojen / Aging Beyond Borders on Wednesday 25 March at Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo, Töölönkatu 51 A-B.

JAA

Join us! Register by 10 March.

Documentary filmmaker and journalist Markku Heikkinen will host the event. Also featured is an opening address by Eva Biaudet, a panel discussion, keynote speeches and a photo exhibition, all exploring multicultural reality and the concerns and aspirations that accompany ageing.

The films are subtitled in both Finnish and English and addresses are bilingual. The panel discussion will be mainly in Finnish, but the audience can also present comments and questions in English.

PROGRAMME

9.15 Registration, distribution of lunch vouchers
Coffee, tea, sandwiches
10.00 Opening address
Eva Biaudet, MP, Chair of the Swedish People’s Party Council, Helsinki City Councillor
Screening of documentary film by Mohamed El Aboudi
11.40 Keynote address: Making the Media More Diverse!
Kristiina Markkanen
Global Education Specialist, Foundation for Communication and Development (VIKES)
11.50 Keynote address: Multiculturalism, Ageing and Wellbeing
Emma Tamankag
Project Specialist, HEED Association Finland
Nursing Lecturer, Laurea University of Applied Sciences
12.00 Lunch

13.00 Oriental dance performance, Helsinki Oriental
Ulla Borgenström
Mikaela Jokinen

13.15 Keynote address: The importance of belonging – observations on organizational activities for Russian speakers
Anastasia Asikainen
VTT, researcher specializing in Russian speakers living in Finland, University of Helsinki
Screening of documentary film by Marita Rainbird
14.10 Panel discussion Multiculturalism, Ageing and Wellbeing
Susanna Lehtovaara
Executive Director and Diversity Specialist, Jade Community Association
Yanika Wilen
Planning Officer, Familia ry
Multicultural Family and Wellbeing Specialist, Mirsal Association
Mourad Bentaleb
Chairman of the Board, Finnish Moroccan Association
Sanna Nykänen
Senior planning officer, MoniTieto project, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
15.10 Socialising and networking
Moroccan salads, snacks, pastries and tea

Participation as well as morning and afternoon refreshments are free of charge. If you want to enjoy the generous and delicious lunch buffet at Korjaamo, please pay EUR 10 to the Icebreaker Productions account when registering. You can also pay with MobilePay: 3595RT

Korjaamo foyer will feature photography exhibition titled Unheard Stories. The photographs and accompanying stories are an art project by photographer Satu Juvonen, realised with a grant from the North Karelia Arts Council. The project was carried out in collaboration with MOI Network for Diverse Ageing.

The event is organised by Icebreaker Productions with support from Arts Promotions Centre Finland (Taike), granted for the cooperative’s multicultural and anti-racist advocacy work.

Would you like to organise your own event? Icebreaker Productions continues to rent out both documentaries for further screenings. If you are interested, please contact producer Kirsi Mattila, kirsi.mattila@icebreakers.fi.