Young People in the Shadow of Multiple Crises - Reading Circle

The reading circle "Young People in the Shadow of Multiple Crises" brings together 16-19-year-olds who speak Finnish to discuss literature about wars, displacement, and pandemics. The reading circle takes place at Helsinki Central Library Oodi in autumn 2026 and is part of a research project funded by the Kone Foundation.

The circle reads two books: "You Don't Know What War Is" (Jeva Skaletska, 2022, Otava) and "My Father from the Land of Orange Blossoms" (Irene Zidan, 2024, WSOY). The books can be borrowed for free or listened to as audiobooks. The meetings include group discussion and simple creative writing exercises - no grading. If interested, you can also participate in a short research interview and consent to recording the reading circle discussions and anonymous use of the writing exercises.

All three meetings (approximately 2 hours each) are held at Oodi, Group Room 4, from 4 to 6 pm:

- Wed 9.9. introductory meeting - no pre-registration required, but attendance at this meeting is mandatory. Books are distributed at the meeting.
- Wed 30.9. discussion of "You Don't Know What War Is".
- Wed 28.10. discussion of "My Father from the Land of Orange Blossoms".

More information: Instagram @youthinpolycrisis and website https://sites.utu.fi/polycrisis