My name is Nejdet Karadağ. I was born in 1978 in Gaziantep, Turkey. I completed my primary, secondary, and high school education in Gaziantep. Between 1999 and 2001, I studied Office Management and Secretariat at Mersin University Vocational School. During summer breaks, I worked in the tourism industry for many years in Alanya.
In 2003, I moved to Finland. I studied Finnish language and culture in the city of Punkaharju. Between 2006 and 2009, I studied Tourism and Business Management at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. In 2008, I also attended the University of Lincoln in England as an Erasmus student, studying Tourism and Management.
I worked for nearly 15 years in a managerial role at one of Finland’s leading companies. I have always tried to contribute positively to Finnish society, and I continue to do my best in this regard.
In 2011, I became actively involved in Finnish politics and have remained politically engaged since then. My purpose in entering politics was to serve both the Finnish community and the immigrant population as a well-integrated migrant myself. I continue on this path with dedication.
Turkish is my mother tongue. My maternal side is Kurdish, but I only have limited knowledge of the Kurdish language. I speak Finnish fluently. I also speak English and a bit of German. During my education, I studied Russian and Swedish, though I do not speak those languages fluently.
I attach great importance to working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and see contributing to a multicultural society as my mission. In line with this, I have been actively involved in the Multicultural Advisory Council of Vantaa City and in various immigrant associations, supporting the integration and adaptation of immigrants into Finnish society.
I have strong experience in team leadership, customer-oriented service development, management, and goal-driven work. My ability to communicate effectively with people, provide guidance and support tailored to individual needs, are core values in my professional life. I also carry these skills into my political life, striving to serve the community in the best way I can.
Unfortunately, far-right ideologies and racism are on the rise both in Finland and across Europe. Sometimes, negative actions of small immigrant groups are exaggerated and used to judge all immigrants. However, most of us are law-abiding, working individuals who pay taxes and contribute to society. Yet, from a racist perspective, we are often misrepresented. This is precisely why I am involved in politics — to show that these perceptions are wrong and to demonstrate how valuable migrants can be for this society.
Finland has an aging population and a declining birth rate. In the future, immigrants will be needed to help sustain the country. A significant labor shortage is expected in many sectors. We must work together to address this challenge. Both in politics and daily life, we — as well-integrated immigrants — will continue to do our part.
I’m sharing information here about my education and political journey. You are always welcome to contact me.
Education
- 1984–1994 Gaziantep, Turkey – Primary, Secondary, and High School
- 1999–2001 Mersin University – Office Management and Secretariat
- 2003 Itä-Karjalan Folk High School – Finnish Language and Culture
- 2006–2009 Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences – Tourism and Business Management
- 2008 University of Lincoln, UK – Tourism and Management (Erasmus)
- 2011 & 2012 Restel Business School – Leadership and Management Studies
Political and Social Contributions
Since 2011, I have been actively involved in Finnish politics with the aim of building a better and more inclusive society. As a well-integrated immigrant, I have always aimed to be a role model and to guide others along the same path. I follow a unifying, constructive, and community-oriented approach in politics. I have consistently prioritized the integration of immigrants, language learning, compliance with laws and regulations, and quick access to the labor market.
Elections Participated In:
- 2012 Porvoo Municipal Elections
- 2017 & 2021 Vantaa Municipal Elections
- 2019 & 2023 Uusimaa Parliamentary Elections
- 2022 Vantaa-Kerava Regional Council Elections
- 2025 Vantaa Municipal and Vantaa-Kerava Regional Elections
Roles Undertaken:
- 2012–2016: Member of Finnish-Language Education Committee, City of Porvoo
- 2017–2021: Member of Multicultural Advisory Council, City of Vantaa
- 2021–2025: Deputy Member, Multicultural Advisory Council, City of Vantaa
- 2022–2026: Deputy Member, Local Democracy and Participation Board, Vantaa-Kerava
