We, the CYF Digital team, came together in 2015 around a volunteer project aimed at helping integrate asylum seekers into the Finnish environment. This effort evolved into a company that now helps people find the best places to live and establish themselves in their new communities.

Our original project won the Facebook Global Digital Challenge, organized by Facebook and the US State Department and held in Washington, D.C. in February 2016. This victory and the positive feedback we received inspired us to continue our work by forming a company committed to creating solutions to social challenges. One of our first projects developed in cooperation with the University of Turku was a digital service to help first-year university students to better integrate into their new study environments. Since then, we have won several other innovation contests both in Finland and abroad. You can read more about them in our acknowledgements.

Our newest solution is Know Your Hoods® neighborhood portal that won an innovation contest organized by the Regional Council of Southwest Finland in which the goal was to develop solutions that used open data to highlight the appeal of neighborhoods and municipalities. Following this achievement, development of the first version of Know Your Hoods® continued in partnership with the City of Turku, the Regional Council of Southwest Finland and Turku Business Region. Development work continues, and we look forward to adding new municipalities and neighborhoods to the service. Could your municipality or neighborhood be next?

A lot of expectations are associated with finding a new place to live. Moving to a new place can create positive new beginnings and a wealth of new opportunities. These can come from new studies, a new job or starting a family, for example. A new neighborhood can offer new friends, new hobbies, and more comprehensive services. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?

However, we know that moving also brings many challenges. Can I find enough information about my new city? How do I find free-time activities I will like? How can I become friends with my new neighbors? I won’t be seen as an outsider, will I? Poor integration may lead to loneliness or even social exclusion. Consequently, loneliness can have significant costs for society.

Everyone should be able to enjoy their new home city or neighborhood. Our digital services are developed to help migrants choose a new city, get to know their new home, and integrate into the local society. Read more about our services below.