Moment in nature: diverse nature experiences as part of the wellbeing of elderly immigrant women

This thesis aimed to familiarize aging immigrant women with the versatile Finnish nature and improve their wellbeing by offering three workshops in three destinations in the capital area during spring 2023. There was a need to develop activities for the NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) elderly service users; therefore, the project was planned, carried out, and evaluated. This work aligns with earlier research showing nature's positive impacts on mental health and wellbeing (Salonen, 2020, p.17); thus, a nature-related development project was seen as a pilot project opportunity for the NGO. The two main objectives of this thesis were to introduce the versatile Finnish nature to elderly immigrant women and create activities to help them experience positive emotions in Finnish nature. The objectives were assessed with the help of the SMART objectives. Further, a risk assessment and analysis were conducted with the help of the SWOT analysis. The operation for the workshops was client-oriented and inclusive, and the methods used in this thesis were based on observation and participatory methods. The workshops were evaluated with the help of lead discussions, open-ended questions, feedback from the participants, observation, and self-reflection. Further, the SMART objectives and the SWOT analysis were evaluated. In conclusion, the workshops were done as planned on schedule, and the outcome was in line with expectations set in the beginning. The need for the workshops was clear, and the evaluation supported their success