The Story and History of L’Hexagone Kindergarten

It was May 1985. After the Kekkonen era, Mauno Koivisto was leading the country in his unique style. In January, Erno Paasilinna had received the Finlandia Prize, and the first episode of 'Kymppitonni' was aired on MTV. A new world began to emerge with the actions of Gorbachev, Reagan, Kohl, and Mitterrand. Finland was changing along with it; local store shelves still mainly carried short and long macaroni, but the penne and tagliatelle revolution was on its way. Interest in foreign languages was growing. Turku already had English and Russian kindergartens, and on May 24th, Turun Sanomat reported that more were coming: a French kindergarten was being organized, and the Cercle Français association was searching for suitable premises.

Although there had been French-oriented afternoon clubs in Turku, there was little French-language activity in the city. According to Statistics Finland, in 1990, only 36 French nationals lived in Southwest Finland (Varsinais-Suomi) (compared to 109 in 2008). Studying French as a long language was possible only at Puolala School, and even then, starting from the third grade. Finnish relations with France were traditionally distant, and the dominance of English in language policy and education was already evident. The French language also carried an aura of elegance, often perceived as a sign of mild snobbery. For most, France represented just a few clichés: food, wine, petites Parisiennes, strikes, and Asterix.

Why then establish a French kindergarten in Turku? The target audience consisted of bilingual families and Finnish families eager to expand their children's horizons beyond the English-speaking world. In an article in Turun Sanomat, Cercle Français leader Seppo Sundelin emphasized the importance of the language in business during a time when Finland's trade relations with Western Europe were growing significantly. The initiative was likely also driven by parents’ desire to maintain and develop the French skills of children who had already learned the language. Below, Matti Pösö, a driving force behind the project and former chairman of Turku’s Cercle Français, describes the early stages and reasons for founding the kindergarten.

The Early Days of L’Hexagone Kindergarten

"Our family of three children returned to Finland in the summer of 1984 after living in France for several years. We lived near Versailles, and our children attended a local French school. The two eldest retained their French proficiency; the eldest even graduated from Celle St Cloud’s lycée in 1984. With our youngest, Mari, who was five years old, it was more difficult. Despite her attending French kindergarten and starting to learn reading and writing, maintaining the language in Turku became a challenge over time.

We hired a local teacher, Jean-Pierre Frigo, as a private tutor for Mari in Turku. Having a private tutor wasn’t cheap, so I inquired with the City of Turku about the possibility of funding for such education. In discussions, it was mentioned that support could be granted to a community.

Around the same time, Mervi and Peter Gustavson returned from France to Finland. Peter had worked as a pastor at the Seamen’s Church in Rouen. Two of their four sons were in a similar situation to our Mari. Together with the Gustavsons, we decided to establish a French kindergarten. The hardest part was reaching parents interested in the idea. The first founding meeting was held at a café on Hämeenkatu. Only Peter and I attended. However, after an active information campaign, other parents joined, and an association was formed.

We rented a 100 m² space in an old wooden house at the corner of Eerikinkatu and Koulukatu. Among the early activists were Seppo Sundelin, chairman of the Cercle Français in Turku, his wife Maija, artist Anna-Maija Aarras, and Mirjami Lundqvist. Other parents, such as a doctor couple named Arasola, who were heading to French-speaking Africa as missionaries, also participated. We prepared the premises for use through volunteer work. The first director of the kindergarten was Anne Vainikka, who held degrees in kindergarten teaching and French language studies.

All of this required funding. We received help from the French consul in Turku, Teppo Korte, CEO of the Farmos group. He arranged a meeting with the city’s head of social services, Ilkka Järvinen. Despite concerns about political differences, the meeting went well, and we secured municipal funding. This enabled us to integrate into Turku's educational network, albeit with additional administrative responsibilities.

We also contacted the French Embassy. Their response was positive, and even a delegation from the French Senate visited to observe our activities. With embassy support, we hired a French kindergarten teacher, Jean-Pierre Daniel, in the spring of 1986. Daniel, an experienced professional, had previously worked in South America and motivated children to learn French.

From Play School to Kindergarten

Under the guidance of Anne Vainikka and Jean-Pierre Daniel, the kindergarten evolved through various locations and setups. By the late 1980s, group photos show about twenty children aged 4–7 and three to six caregivers. For the youngest, the kindergarten operated in the mornings from Monday to Friday, with afternoon clubs for 7–9-year-olds twice a week.

The establishment of the L’Hexagone Kindergarten Support Association in the summer of 1997 marked a shift, moving the kindergarten away from its affiliation with Cercle Français. The activities gradually expanded into a fully-fledged kindergarten. After Anne Vainikka, Sirpa Runola became director in the late 1980s, followed by Stina Tuomi in 2001. In 1997, the kindergarten moved to its current premises between Linnankatu and Crichtoninkatu. The number of children grew to between fifty and sixty.

Since its founding, L’Hexagone has experienced both prosperous and challenging times. For example, in 2000, a lack of children threatened the kindergarten's survival. Parents organized fundraising events, including a charity concert performed by cellist Timo Hanhinen and the Turku Ensemble.

The early 2000s were particularly difficult for multilingual kindergartens in Turku. Both English and German kindergartens had to close. Turun Sanomat attributed this to high costs and a waning interest in foreign languages. However, Sirpa Runola, the then-director, highlighted the strengths of language kindergartens: they offered both childcare and exposure to foreign cultures.

Today, L’Hexagone has established itself as a typical Finnish kindergarten and preschool, where children also explore French language and culture. Although Turku doesn’t have enough French speakers to support a school like the Helsinki Franco-Finnish Lycée, L’Hexagone continues to play a key role in promoting foreign languages and cultures in an increasingly globalized world.

As part of Turku's private kindergarten and preschool network, L’Hexagone has provided access to French language and culture for over 40 years. Alongside the Russo-Finnish Miska House, it is the oldest language-focused kindergarten in Turku. Being exposed to a multicultural environment from an early age is a valuable investment and a clear asset for our children.

So, vive L’Hexagone!