Experience stories

From plumber to commercial diver, Nikolai Jokinen’s story is one of passion and adventure. Discover how he combined his construction background with a love for the extreme, diving into a challenging underwater career.

Kiwoong Nam shares his inspiring move from South Korea to Rovaniemi - Finland’s Northern city, and his story of adjusting to Arctic life with his family.

While facing challenges in orphanages and foster care, Arina dreamt of a loving family. As she grew older, believing no one wanted to adopt a teenager, her dream faded. Suddenly, at 15, she met a loving family through international adoption and moved from Latvia to Texas, USA.

Latvian entrepreneur Janis Lazdans brings innovation to cultural restoration by reviving Padure Manor through equity crowdfunding — the first public share heritage project in Latvia. He shows how communities can co-own and restore historic landmarks together.

Katie Leatherwood transforms lives with prosthetic solutions, helping individuals who’ve lost limbs. From Texas to the global stage, she’s currently making a significant impact in Latvia and aiding Ukraine.

Nicole added a new chapter to her life story as a surrogate mother by fulfilling another family’s dream of having a baby.

My passion for bringing people together and fostering cultural exchange led to launching the ‘Local Buddies’ program, connecting Erasmus Mundus students with local residents.

In this podcast series, she shares her life from childhood until now. She is one of the students in the Erasmus Mundus master’s degree program “⁠Service Design Strategies and Innovations⁠,” which leads her to experience different countries and study in a very diverse class.

Discover Erum Ali’s inspiring story in the latest Stories from the North episode. Host Linda Paulauska explores Erum’s journey from Pakistan to Finland as a single mother of two. Hear how she balances motherhood, education, and life in Lapland, showcasing courage, resilience, and determination.

Julián Núñez Castiñeyra⁠ is from Venezuela. In this podcast series, he shares his life story, from childhood to the present. He is one of the students in the Erasmus Mundus master’s degree program “⁠Service Design Strategies and Innovations⁠”.