Author: Valerie Hopkins

Valerie took part in FCP program in 2013 and says that a month spent in Finland made a strong impression on her. Valerie graduated from New York’s Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in 2013. After her graduation Valerie has worked as a trainee, journalist and editor for Reuters in the office for the Balkans and Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. In 2010-2012, Valerie worked and studied in Sarajevo. Valerie has followed closely Finns’ reactions for the immigration crisis, as well as Finland’s EU policy. Valerie says that it is incredible how quickly the innovative Finnish welfare state developed after the Winter and the Continuation Wars. She would like to learn more about the Finnish success story, and to see whether the Finnish model could be utilised in other countries such as Kosovo. Because of her current work situation Valerie is particularly interested of the President Martti Ahtisaari’s role in the Kosovo peace process. “Finland is much more to me than a marvelous place I spent a lovely month one summer with some cool people from all over the world. It is more than the sauna and the unspoiled forests, the technology and public transportation. It is a country for whose people I feel tremendous affection and for whose presence the world has much to be thankful.”