Dec 9, 2023: Interview in the Finnish Newspaper Lapin Kansa
The Finnish regional newspaper Lapin Kansa recently featured an interview with our team member Ria-Maria Adams, in its weekend edition. The interview focused on her work with young people in Lapland, which is part of her forthcoming doctoral thesis. Ria-Maria’s dissertation includes the case of young rural “stayers,” who are bucking the prevailing culture of leaving their hometowns to live in more urban areas of the country.
In collaboration with her colleague from the University of Lapland, Teresa Komu, Ria-Maria has co-authored two publications (a book chapter and a research article, both released in 2021) on the well-being of young people in Finnish Lapland. Journalist Niina Lavia builds on these articles in her interview with Ria-Maria, highlighting the voices of local young people. The interviewees talk about the building blocks of what makes a good life for them, as well as the challenges they face. For example, while long distances are not a problem for young people in the North who are used to commuting long distances, the rising fuel prices emerge as a challenge to pursue their lifestyle in the Arctic. The article “He jotka jäävät” (Those who stay) can be read in Finnish behind a paywall at the following link.
