Have you seen this statue in Ainola park?
That’s a statue of Sara Wacklin (1790–1846), an incredible enthusiast and change maker. She has become a true inspiration for us!
Sara was a Swedish-speaking Finnish lady born in Oulu. She was the first Finnish female who received a higher degree at Sorbonne University in Paris in 1835. When higher education was not available to women in Finland until the end of the 19th century.
Her passion has changed Finnish education forever and fostered an equality and equity movement in Finland. Sara Wacklin was the first female writer in Finland and the first person who opened the school for girls where they could study the same subjects as boys. Previously, girls’ education was focused on preparing them for marriage life. Sara believed that women should be able to scope on their own. She made a huge contribution to the Finnish education system, which is considered to be one of the best in the world nowadays!
Sara Wacklin was actively involved in a multicultural collaboration, travelled across Europe, was curious about contemporary waves in education, and preached Roussseu’s ideas of social equality.
She published a best-seller book called «Hundrade minnen från Österbotten» (A Hundred Memories of Ostrobothnia) which became a part of a nation-building project. In this book, she collected her memories, comic but realistic stories of Oulu citizens and their «contribution to promote education in local community» with sarcastic feministic touch.
Thanks to pioneers like Sarah Wacklin, our world is changing!
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