Bloom ry is an association dedicated to building a community where both internationals and locals can thrive together. The synergy, empowerment and support that is found at Bloom will enable each individual to integrate with ease into any culture.
The Growth of Bloom
Photo: Laura Vanzo, Visit Tampere
It all started when…
Our Founder, Kelly Keodara, first arrived in Finland, she faced the same uphill battles that many internationals silently endure. Despite the country’s beauty and promise, navigating an unfamiliar culture, language, and social system left her feeling isolated. She reached out for support—through institutions, services, and community resources—but often came up empty-handed. The deeper she immersed herself, the more she realized that beneath the surface of integration lay unspoken barriers and subtle stigmas that made it harder for newcomers to feel truly welcome.
But Kelly wasn’t alone. The more she listened, the more stories she heard—stories of internationals across Finland longing not just for services, but for connection, understanding, and the chance to belong. These weren’t isolated experiences. They were shared struggles that revealed a deeper need: not just for inclusion, but for transformation.
After five years of living, studying, and working in Finland, Kelly had gathered powerful insight into what meaningful integration really looks like. And though she knew the journey wasn’t over, she also knew it was time to act.
In 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, she poured her heart into research—conducting surveys, listening to hundreds of voices, mapping out what was missing. It was during this time that her vision came into focus. What if there was a space that didn’t just support integration—but celebrated it? A place where internationals and locals could meet, learn from one another, and grow—together.
That vision became Bloom. A space where you can grow, personally and professionally.
With support from the City of Tampere, what began as an idea soon blossomed into a movement. And it was met with something powerful: relief, joy, and hope. For the first time, people felt seen. They felt heard. Bloom became more than an organization—it became a community.
Today, together with co-founders Jens Christian Trier Aagaard and Karen Ahtiainen, along with a dedicated team of board members and volunteers, Bloom has expanded to cities like Oulu, Porvoo, Lahti and Helsinki. And we’re just getting started.
Because this is about more than integration—it’s about transformation. It’s about building a future where everyone, no matter where they come from, has the chance to thrive.
This is our story. This is your story.
Let’s build it—together.
Let’s Bloom.