No one knows for sure how many adult refugees in Finland are illiterate

The National Board of Education has estimated that 1,500 adults with a refugee background are illiterate. Another estimate is that ten percent of the quota refugees accepted by Finland are illiterate. There are currently some 23,000 quota refugees in Finland.

In a project of the Finnish Refugee Council called Supporter, refugees offer support to other immigrants with refugee backgrounds.

The group in Espoo's Matinkylä is one of the project's twenty groups. The programme of the groups is often designed to fit the specific, individual needs of the group members. The groups provide support in everyday challenges, such as in cooperation between homes and school, parenthood, and single parenthood. Teenagers and those who have arrived in Finland alone also receive special attention.

The Supporter project will last for three years, with activities in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, and Turku.

The Supporter project of the Finnish Refugee Council is funded by Finland's Slot Machine Association RAY. The City of Helsinki has also granted some financing to the project.