We are thrilled to introduce you to Maija Lindström! Maija joins the team as our Communications Assistant and will be with us for the next 5 months. Here’s what Maija had to say after her first week in Brussels:
”I’m Maija, a 24-year-old social butterfly and travel enthusiast, excited to settle into the so-called “capital of Europe” in Brussels.
My background is a blend of Finnish countryside roots and global adventures. I grew up in the small town of Karkkila, among a crowd of film directors and factory workers. In my teenage years, I lived in Singapore and Bosnia-Hercegovina, where I absorbed the Southeast Asian work ethic and the warmth of Balkan hospitality. Later, I started my university studies in Helsinki, including an exciting student exchange at University College London. I hold a BA in Sociology and am currently doing an international MA in Global Politics and Communications, specialising in Media and Democracy.
This internship is a natural extension of my previous work and volunteer experiences. I have a passion for societal impact through media and communication, and I’m looking forward to deepening my knowledge of the cultural sector across Finland and the Benelux region. With an open mind towards future opportunities in Finland or abroad, I’m excited to see how the internship will expand my skills, networks, and horizons.
I’m looking forward to exploring Brussels, networking and finding people and places to call home. Working at the Institute feels very inspiring, allowing us to get to know the city through the lens and perspective of art and culture. I especially love the institute’s emphasis on minority representation from Finland, being a disability activist myself.
Being at the political and cultural heart of Europe feels energising. The noise of cars and trams around the city and the laughter of my colleagues on the sofas of our cozy office have defined my first week here. This makes me very excited for the rest of the spring — let’s get to work!”
Maija joins us as part of the EDUFI Internship, a granted internship programme coordinated and funded by the Finnish National Agency for Education.