Tilkku - Patch Quilt Fairy Tale
The concept of a patch quilt is such that it consists of cloth patches which are not placed symmetrically. First the base cloth is spread, on top of which patches are attached closely together. It is possible to place soft stuffing between the base and patches. Then each patch is sewed so that the sides are tightly together, yet they do not mix or overlap others. Different colors become neighbors; similar colors do not form a group of their own. No patch is better than the other; they simply cannot be compared. Patch quilt is not like mosaic, in which each element has its own predestined unchangeable location. Patch quilt can be stretched and twisted, looked from up or down and basically replaced without the whole concept falling apart.
In the kindergarten clubs of Helsinki many patch quilts were constructed during the 80s. The children themselves got to cut patches of various colors and sizes in order for the coordinator to stuff and saw them together. Rarely had the grown up thrown a quilt away. The quilt had become so important that it was frequently carried along and involved in many things. Once the children climbed on top of the Malminkartano hill and the coordinator said that one can feel himself flying if he lies down on his stomach on top of the quilt. And indeed, children felt as if they were flying as they laid down each on their own patch quilt underneath the tree brunches. No one whosoever had the feeling of falling down, quilt and friendship created a sense of safety; no one was scared.
Each quilt was individual; at the end of the day they were placed on the floor into whatever shape they formed. So the quilts had several purposes – sometimes they were slept on, sometimes jumped on. Each child was individual, too, and everyone’s quilt was praised and adored. This was the best part of the day, when each and everyone, got the chance to feel him or herself joining the part of the bigger whole in the non-symmetric harmony of quilts. My quilt, my blanket here – as a part of that big something, called the world. The quilts picture people as individuals calling for mutual help.
At times anyone can find him or herself in a foreign country. However, there is great difference between living abroad and being a tourist. If the natives keep the land selfishly to themselves, so that they ones who came later always feel themselves as tourists, the problems are bound to arise. A proverb says: showing hospitality gave many a chance to have angels as guests, without knowing it of course. And in the end, there is no need to think who got here first and who as second, there is no discrepancy between the own and the foreign, there are no strangers – instead everybody shows equally humanity and respect towards each other.
Tilkku, the Multicultural Group of the Centre Youth Party was born in Helsinki, because here the concept of being multicultural is of current interest. Later, it is intended to expand. The Multicultural Group is directed towards the youngsters born in the late 70s and 80s, because the patch quilt of the childhood days brings good memories. Already 10 years ago the city was multicultural, in many classrooms there children of different nationalities. One got used that starting from the 1st class.
The quilt symbolizes the courage to grow up together and learn from each other. It manifests goodwill, attention and consideration, and of course friendship. The concept of the multicultural should not be left in kindergartens and schools, instead accompany during the life run. That is why we are called Tilkku, that is why we want cover the whole Finland under our warm quilt. Under no circumstances Tilkku intends to diminish differences between cultures or balance people. This is exactly why there is no similar , Tilkkutäkki, quilt or Tilkku-group. This is exactly why we don’t want to make a neatly blue and white blanket, despite the love towards this country and its inhabitants brings us together. We believe that the culture is not permanent, but it changes with people. Through out all times the migration of people belonged to the history of Europe. Just 60 years ago a banana was a rarity and 40 years ago there were no pizza places in Finland. We thank all the countries and nationalities for the good things, and wish to preserve them. Our hope is to promote youth activity within society through our group, and this way speed up their adaptation process. Not that we are giving something that can be obtained, but just that we hold each others hands.