OLOTILA : A COMMUNITY SPACE AND ITS MEANING TO ITS SERVICE USERS
Ateafac, Emmaculate (2013)
Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu
2013
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2013052210200
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2013052210200
Tiivistelmä
ABSTRACT
The objective of this thesis is to explore the meaning of Olotila from the point of view of its service users. Olotila is a drop-inn center situated in the heart of Tik-kurila which is one of the administrative headquarters of the city of Vantaa, Fin-land
The qualitative research method was deemed suitable for this research. Data was collected through observation, document consultation in addition to four individual and three group interviews which were carried out during a five weeks practice related placement at its premises. With emphasis on “what does Olotila mean to you” a sense is developed on the different ways in which Olotila is beneficial to its service users.
Findings suggest that, Olotila means much more than an ordinary café. To some of its service users, Olotila means a place for socialization, a place for building social support networks to improve subjective wellbeing, a place for development and improvement of some individual relevant skills, a place provid-ing opportunities for community engagement while to others it means a meeting space, a space for solitude and a space of care.
The purpose of this research is to prove and document the importance of Olotila by matching the voices of its service users and some social theories.
Key Words: community space, care, social support, solitude and wellbeing.
The objective of this thesis is to explore the meaning of Olotila from the point of view of its service users. Olotila is a drop-inn center situated in the heart of Tik-kurila which is one of the administrative headquarters of the city of Vantaa, Fin-land
The qualitative research method was deemed suitable for this research. Data was collected through observation, document consultation in addition to four individual and three group interviews which were carried out during a five weeks practice related placement at its premises. With emphasis on “what does Olotila mean to you” a sense is developed on the different ways in which Olotila is beneficial to its service users.
Findings suggest that, Olotila means much more than an ordinary café. To some of its service users, Olotila means a place for socialization, a place for building social support networks to improve subjective wellbeing, a place for development and improvement of some individual relevant skills, a place provid-ing opportunities for community engagement while to others it means a meeting space, a space for solitude and a space of care.
The purpose of this research is to prove and document the importance of Olotila by matching the voices of its service users and some social theories.
Key Words: community space, care, social support, solitude and wellbeing.