People sitting in a circle in the library.

The future of the district was discussed in Rajapatsaa's library

The statue was perceived as a better place to live and live than its reputation.

About ten people gathered at the Rajapatsaa library on Thursday, October 19, to discuss the current situation and the future of the Rajapatsaa neighborhood. The title of the event was the Border Statue of the Future - prospects and possibilities. The discussion was the fourth of the Minun kuntani project implemented by the Imatra city library, and it was moderated by a library expert Ari Sareslahti.

Better than its reputation

The interlocutors' attention was immediately drawn to Rajapatsa's reputation as a somewhat remote and remote area, which can be seen, for example, in the prices of apartments.

- This would be a wonderful apartment, but when this is in Rajapatsa, it might be seen in the apartment screens, according to one of the participants.

A series of articles from the mid-1990s by Helsingin sanomat was considered the starting point for the negative reputation. The proximity of Russia was also seen to be important, especially now that the border is closed and its future is uncertain. The proximity of the border didn't bother, let alone worry, the discussants who live in Rajapatsaa or who lived there before. However, joining NATO was seen as having the potential to increase the sense of security among those living abroad who want to make investments in Eastern Finland.

Despite its stubborn reputation, many good things were recognized in Rajapatsaa. Of course, the number of shops and stores has decreased significantly since the past, but there are still functioning services in the area: the conversation took place in the local library, the tattoo shop named the best in the city operates in Patsaa, and you can get mostly everything you need from the grocery store. A couple of interviewees mentioned that they prefer a convenience store whenever possible, instead of Mansikkala's hypermarkets. The next store on the east side of Vuoksen was found to be up to Vuoksenniska. And it was not forgotten that Imatranajo originates from Rajapatsa.
The residential area formed in the vicinity of a large factory area has not received a new attraction to replace it, as the number of factory workers has fallen over the decades. Many houses have remained empty. According to one speaker, the whole of eastern Finland is in the same mess. It was found that a couple of thousand people still live in the areas of Rajapatsa and Teppanala, i.e. a significant number by Imatra's standards.

Developing together with small actions

The interlocutors said that they hope for Rajapatsaa to have, among other things, mural art, better opportunities for the elderly to move on sleds and buses, the vitality and livelihood of businesses, and genuine enthusiasm for association activities. The statue has an active village association that strives to see the future as good and identify opportunities. Even during the years of implementing a few small things, it has been noticed that the area is enlivened and the residents feel proud.

Active communities are resources, but the discussion raised concerns about how association activities often rely on narrow and elderly shoulders. The purpose of the activity is not to tire the few active people, but to generate small improvements like a snowball effect.

- There can be meaningful development, even if larger investments go elsewhere, one speaker summarized.

This was the first time that this type of discussion was held in a local library. The library expert was pleased with the opportunity.

- The end result was an interesting occasion where history, the present and the future overlapped. The discussion showed that despite the difficult times, the residents of Rajapatsa have a healthy self-esteem and faith in the future, says Sareslahti.

Additional information:
Library expert Ari Sareslahti, tel. 020 617 6603, ari.sareslahtiimatra.fi (ari[dot]sareslahti[at]imatra[dot]fi)

The discussion was started by the project manager of the Elävä Imatrankoski project Tuija Valkeapää. He decided to challenge the debaters through arguments.

Claim 1: democracy does not need politics. Residents of villages and village-like areas have more possibilities of influence than they think, examples of which include funding options for residents' associations, participatory activities, and quick communication and decision-making using information technology and social media.

Statement 2: one person can change a lot. Every one of us knows someone who has the flame bearer bug. The passion of one can start a change, but the continuation must be like the migration of birds - everyone pulls in turn so that the flame of the fire-bearer does not go out.

Statement 3: the best future is an uncertain future. We have seen that reforms that took years have been implemented in days, when it was necessary. The best thing that people and communities can do for themselves is to develop tolerance for uncertainty.

Proposition 4: There is no single correct future. Every area has a future – you just have to choose the future you want to create. On the side streets of densely populated areas, many families are surely living the best time of their lives, even if all the city's attraction meters are on the floor. Their quality of life only begins to decline when they keep hearing how badly they are doing. Who tells their story and how is of great importance.

Claim 5: Shame is the new superpower. The future of areas with an industrial background is affected by whether its inhabitants were ashamed or proud of their home region when they were young. Shame may not be your own, but a feeling inherited from a previous generation. Few who feel shame are Rajapatsaanka's hope for the future, but everyone who has made peace with their shame is a treasure.

Assertion 6: it is easy to win by surprise. Finland is full of villages and neighborhoods whose residents have perhaps slipped into a state where there is no possibility of change. Sometimes the mood changes in an instant when a common problem comes up, such as the decision to close the school. Sometimes it is enough for the media to write badly. Sometimes all it takes is one enthusiast to get others excited and a new virus called change begins to spread in the district.