My best memories at the University of Helsinki

Without a doubt, my best memory at the University of Helsinki is when around a dozen Roma students participated in my courses in the autumn of 2014. It was the first time that so many Roma and majority students sat together in the same classroom.

The way students get together during the courses is something that I would like to see in society at large. It reminds me of my childhood when my family and the majority children from the neighbourhood spent time together in Riihimäki. Maybe something like that is possible on a larger scale as well, and the university should create opportunities for that.

Getting feedback from students is always an important moment. In particular the feedback written by one student in the autumn of 2014 will surely stay with me forever: ‘I used to think of the Roma as a collective, now I think of them as individuals.’ I remember when I went back to my office after that lesson and shouted ‘Wow!’

By Written by Henry Hedman and Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta (ed.). Translated by Olli Silvennoinen.

Henry Hedman

Henry Matti Vihtori Hedman
Born March 8, 1952, Riihimäki

Master of Religion Education 1994, Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia (B.C.)
Studies for a Bachelor of Theology in 1977–1978, Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas
Vocational qualification in business and administration 1971, Riihimäki Business College

University Instructor, Romani and Roma culture, University of Helsinki
Musician, non-fiction author, theologist and translator
Researcher, Centre for the Languages of Finland 2002–2012
Executive manager, Romano Missio ry 1996–2000

Publications, research projects and other academic activities (linkiksi: http://tuhat.halvi.helsinki.fi/portal/en/person/hmhedma)

Awards and memberships in organizations
Advisory board on Roma Affairs, member 1986-, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, member of the Committee, appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland 2012-
Member of MG-S-Rom, a Council of Europe Group of Specialists 2002–2010
Awarded for work on materials and education in Romani by the National Board of Education and the Advisory Board on Roma Affairs, 2010
Person of the year in Riihimäki, 2001

Written by Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta
Translated by Olli Silvennoinen