Teaching about refugees with the Moomin stories

The world feels extraordinarily bleak right now – more people than ever have been displaced from their homes by war, conflict and persecution, new crises emerge, and the old ones never seem to end. How can we communicate with young people about an uncertain future without succumbing to hopelessness?

Tove Jansson, the artist and author and the creator of the Moomins, wrote a significant portion of her work during the Second World War. The shadow of war is palpable in many of the stories about the Moomin family, their friends, and adventures.

From the psychological impact and existentialism of impending catastrophe to being forced to flee from natural disasters, Moomin stories continue to be relevant and highlight the importance of humanity and solidarity in a world that is not always easy or understandable to the Moomins. The Moomin family – with the Moominhouse door always open, always ready to host a pancake party – reminds us to be curious, kind and courageous in times of adversity and fear.

The world has always been challenging, but today we live in a time where our fear is being exploited. You cannot meet fear with mere facts. Emotions are powerful, both negative and strong. Through art, culture, and emotion, we can meet fear and move people toward positive action for our world and each other.

This package is intended to assist you in teaching about the world with empathy, and creating a Moominous antidote of hope to a world that can seem increasingly hostile and full of injustice and conflict.

These materials combine critical thinking and independent research in with creative exercises, intended to foster a sense of agency and empathy among secondary school students. By the end, they should be able to reflect on their own role as global citizens and think about the actions they can take to bring about meaningful change.