WSCF-Europe hosted a study session at the European Youth Centre in Budapest from March 3rd to 7th titled “Youth in Leadership Today: The Pathway Forward” to empower students and young individuals involved in member movements by developing their leadership capabilities and capacities. As part of this initiative, five participants from various backgrounds and experiences produced a podcast-style interview reflecting on their learnings. Their discussions particularly focused on communication, intersectionality, and leadership.
Katri: Hello, this was the last day of the Youth in Leadership Today study session with WSCF-E in Budapest, and we have been participating in quite an intensive week. There have been a lot of topics about leadership, but the ones we’re going to cover is intersectionality and communication, and we want to go through some of the insights that we have learnt during this week. Before we do that, let’s introduce ourselves. My name is Katri I come from Finland. My pronouns are she and her.
Anna: My name is Anna. I come from Poland, and my pronouns are also she, her.
Lydia: My name is Lydia, and I’m from Germany. I am also with the pronouns she and her.
Usva: My name is Usva I come from Finland. And my pronouns are they/them.
The conversation began with a reflection on the group’s diversity and the importance of inclusive communication strategies within that context before diving into the principles of “safer space” and building respectful, encouraging environments.
Katri: Our group has been quite diverse. We don’t only have Europeans; we also have people from around the world. Even in Europe, we have very different people. One thing that we have learned is that when you have a group, you can’t just jump into it. You need to think about things you need and learn strategy on how you can communicate in such a way that everybody feels safe and everybody can understand what you mean and have the space to talk about their experiences. The first thing we want to cover with Usva is safer spaces.
Usva: In WSCF events, we usually follow safer space guidelines. Safer spaces mean spaces where we try to think about everyone and their needs, recognise them, and communicate so that everybody can feel safe and it is possible to be vulnerable. And we are trying to be sensitive towards all of us. And why do we need a safe space? So everybody can feel good within the space, and we can accomplish things together. If you don’t feel good, if you don’t feel safe, it is hard to make something happen and be efficient and do something groundbreaking. Why do you all think we need safe spaces? Is there a need for them in your country? Is it common to have safer space principles used, Anna?
Anna: So, in my country, there’s not much recognition around safe spaces. They aren’t considered a thing in most official situations. In student organisations or student situations, we usually make sure that everyone feels comfortable and can speak up if they feel the need. But most discussions are rather aggressive and not really easy to cut into, which makes it hard, especially for young people who maybe don’t feel especially secure in their position to speak up.
Usva: Safer spaces: they are for all but extremely important to marginalised people that come from different minorities, and they might need them even more. For me, this week here in Budapest has felt really safe. Have you all also felt that and why do you think that is? For me, one thing is that we did go through [ground rules]. We are going to follow, say, the safer space principles. We also made our programs known when we started discussing them. But what else?
Anna: I didn’t feel like I belonged at the beginning of the session, mostly because I am not actually a leader. So, I felt like I was a bit standing out. But everyone—I don’t know how to put it into words—but let’s say that the vibe was really nice. Everyone is very welcoming, always smiling, always nice. And you feel like even if you don’t have, let’s say, the authority or the experience to say something, you can still speak your mind.
Lydia: For me, it was very important to see how vulnerable everybody was directly from the first day. It also made it easier for me to open myself up and talk about problems. And I think this is what’s made it easier for me. So, just the honesty of everybody else.
(…) Usva: And it can also be a lot about the attitude. For example, saying that we use safer space principles might be kind of new, but of course, people have tried to do that before. It hasn’t been called this, but it has just been called being nice, being welcoming. So it’s not really anything new that you have to learn, but I believe everybody has, hopefully, already followed safer space principles in their life.
A large portion of the study session’s learning underscored the importance of establishing respectful communication strategies, upholding safer space principles and empowering marginalised voices. With this foundation, the conversation naturally turns to how young leaders can implement these principles in their own leadership styles.
Usva: We have been talking a lot about leadership this week. What is a good leader? What is a bad leader? What do you think? How can we make safer space principles happen as young leaders?
Anna: That’s a hard question. Well, if you are a leader, there are people depending on you. And I think that the most important thing is a close relationship with the people who trust you just so they can feel that you trust them back. And then everything should go smoothly, and everyone should feel comfortable.
Usva: Yeah, a big thing is that introducing safer space principles to your community can be the first step. And then making sure that we follow them also. And checking in with the people who might feel a bit anxious or see that they are not feeling that good and asking them what we could do to make you also feel safe?
Lydia: I think it is very important that you are open to mistakes. So, [leaders] are open that they can be criticised and that they can also change things because then people are not hiding mistakes themselves, but they can also talk openly about it.
Usva: And the reason why we call them “safer space” principles, not the “safe space” principle, is that it is not possible to make a completely safe space for everyone. And the point is that we try, and we are open to becoming better. We want to become better. We want to develop the situation, and our communities.
Here, the conversation shifts toward the broader responsibilities of leaders, especially in acknowledging issues like privilege. The group began the conversation on privilege by introducing their experiences with intersectionality and interculturality and sharing cross-cultural experiences. The group considers personal examples of how cultural differences became a moment for growth or understanding during the week.
Katri: We all have a responsibility to behave in a way that is comfortable and as safe as possible for everybody. But the leader has a specific responsibility for that. And a part of it is that the leader has a responsibility to recognise the points that might make the situation unsafe for somebody. And a lot of things are built into this, but one of them is privilege. So that’s where we’re going to move next. Anna, could you please share some ideas about this?
Anna: I think that first, we need to mention topics of intersectionality and interculturality. Those two words mean having people from different backgrounds in the simplest words possible. We here have people from different parts of the world, from different organisations. We have people who are part of a student community and who represent their church. Speaking of churches, we have people from a lot of different denominations. We’re an ecumenical community here. And I feel like this is a good moment to ask about some interculturality examples from you all. What is an experience where you felt that there was a cultural clash that happened?
Usva: I can start. I come from Finland. We are very precise and very efficient. We will be on time. If you say the party starts at 8, people will be there at 8:00 or 8:30 at the latest. And that is not the case with many, many other countries. And here, I have learnt to have a bit more patience with other people. Trying to accept that this is the way things are. It doesn’t need to always be how it has been in my country.
Katri: I have an example in WSCF-E events. We have a policy that we have vegetarian food, and this is because of climate reasons and ethical reasons. For me, in Finland, it is very, very common. Almost all the student activities nowadays have vegetarian food; it would feel odd to serve meat in a student context. This is not the case for every participant here, and you can really see that some [participants] struggle with it, and it is a completely new thing. On the first day, I felt…why are you having such a hard time with it? But it was a real point of learning for me. When I reflected, I realised that it was kind of unfair of me. It is really more difficult for other people. I can’t expect them to be familiar with something that, you know, is familiar to me. I think that it was good for me to realise that.
Lydia: During the week, I figured out that I’m staring quite a lot. Because, for me, it’s a sign of: “OK, hey, I see you, I’m listening to you, you have like all my attention.” But, some people are feeling kind of weird because I’m staring for maybe 5 or 10 minutes, and even I don’t get it. So yeah, it’s the first thing that I learned this
Anna: My cultural difference example is something that I was aware of before, but being here, I’ve gotten into conversations that helped me realise how big of a difference it is. I am from a Lutheran Church in Poland. We are a very, very tiny minority. Speaking to my friends from Finland, who have the opposite experience, Lutheranism is the main religion. And just talking about how we are technically parts of the same community, but our experiences are so drastically different, really opened my eyes to how differently I can perceive my own religion.
The discussion turns to a deeper look at how privilege can inform our experiences and the ways we interact in various spaces. The group discusses the different experiences with miscommunication and assumptions, how reflection and humility helped resolve them, and the ways self-awareness and reflection can bring understanding and even connection among those with different backgrounds.
Anna: Now, this is a good time to talk about privilege. It’s privilege, and the lack of it is very connected to our backgrounds, where we live, and how we were brought up. The most important part, while being in a multicultural setting, is to acknowledge everyone’s experience. The exchange of realities is something that’s—I cannot stress enough about how important it is to just listen to what other people are saying. Even if, for example, there’s someone from the Global South and you’re a European, and you feel that in comparing your struggles are not comparable to the struggles of people from a different setting, that is not true. You are still valid. Everything you experience is still something that is in your heart. But you need to be aware of your privilege. You may have it a bit easier in some ways; you need to be able to communicate what you’re talking about. And I think communication is the very first and the most important step when being in an intersectional, intercultural situation. We need to talk and listen to everyone.
Usva: I could share an example about intersectionality. Even though I am from the Global North, Europe, Finland, a very wealthy country, still in my country, I belong to different minorities. So, even though I am technically very privileged, there are also challenges that I face within my country and also globally. It is very interesting to see what everyone’s experiences are and how these things can be so drastically different in other countries: what is acceptable and what is not.
Anna: My example is a bit different. I am a cultural studies major. That’s what I do in university. Being here, I’ve heard a story from a person who was putting down their culture, and in a way, they were comparing themselves to the European standard and being very harsh on their heritage. And my initial reaction was, no, don’t do that. It’s your culture; it’s beautiful; don’t put it down. But then I reflected, and I realised, OK, yeah, they are putting down their culture, but also, they are the ones living in it. They are the ones that are experiencing this. They know better than me if that’s something that deserves critique. So, after that comment and discussion, I apologised for just intruding and telling them how to feel about their own experience because that’s something you shouldn’t do. So, an example of bad communication, the good thing is it got resolved. Everything’s all at peace because we respect each other, and that’s the most important thing. And also reflect on your privilege because I was in a very privileged position in that situation. I just made some assumptions, which I shouldn’t have made.
Having outlined the importance of considering the diversity within groups in building a constructive, respectful, safer space, the group shifts to discuss the integral nature of developing connections and identifying the commonalities in order to build communities.
Katri: We don’t want to be stuck only on the differences we may have. If we only focus on that, then we will never be able to build a community. So, it is equally important to talk about how we can overcome the different situations where we come from. And Lydia has something to share about that.
Lydia: For example, language barriers and also cultural differences. We had different upbringings and different childhoods that we also talked about. And still, I think we managed to grow together as a group and became friends. And there were many moments during this week when we were just one unit, just laughing about something, maybe some joke. We also have some inside jokes now after this week. I think these moments they’re really beautiful for me. I asked myself, how can you overcome these differences so quickly and so easily? And I think the first thing that was said before is that you have to keep in mind that they are like differences. Every individual in the room has their background and their own story. The first thing is to acknowledge these differences and these experiences. The second step is to get through these differences and understand each other. So, you get the other person, and then you can connect maybe on values, from the same values, or the personality you are. So, I want to know from you all which commonalities you discovered throughout the week inside the group?
Anna: I feel like even though there is a bit of a cultural language barrier, I mean, we still managed to get along. I don’t think this was done intentionally, but one of the first things I noticed on my first day was that we were kind of all paired up in the sense no one was alone, [in the sense that] speaking a language that no one else in the room would know. Most people had another native or really good speaker of the language. It just so happened that I speak both Polish and Italian. And some of the people who struggled with English, I also speak those languages. So, I was able to help them overcome the language barrier, which just felt like a very coming-together moment. (…)
Usva: And I think when it comes to overcoming differences, a lot is about reflecting and wanting to do better. Not as heavy of example: I’ve noticed that music brings people together. People dancing, even though they might not listen to the same type of music. When you have music in the background, people are just like, more easy-going, happier. You can vibe to it together, have a little laugh and dance moves. I’ve noticed that those common experiences are very important and can be very heartwarming.
Katri: For me, maybe the most striking thing was the kind of commitment everybody has to similar values and goals. In our different contexts, I think everybody wants to strive for justice and equality and all those things. And it was kind of shared a very strong feeling of, you know, commitment both explicitly talked about and also something that comes through [actions]. Even though people might approach some things from a little bit different angle and have a little bit different questions, maybe different things are kind of relevant to them. But still, there’s the will to strive for a more just society. And that is something that brings us together, I think.
Usva: And actually, that reminds me of our common agreement that we signed at the start of the week. We came up with it together, set ground rules and everything. Those also included forgiving, trying to improve yourself, and trying to communicate as clearly as possible. So, I think that’s a good example of committing to things.
Anna: Regarding the agreement, my favourite part was the assumption of no ill intent. That was very important.
Finally, the group reflect on the elements of the study session they will take forward moving beyond the week with a call to action, encouraging others to seek out similar learning opportunities and carry forward the energy and lessons shared.
Lydia: I think for me it was very inspiring to see every single person in the room because I think there’s so much potential and creativity. I mean, we worked through many, many topics and tasks this week. And I think everybody was involved and very passionate about it. So, I think this makes me also passionate about the topic. And also, seeing so many young leaders, I think this is what I’m going to take home, even though I’m going to miss the people. But I think we can still stay in contact back through social media and everything. But that’s what was very hopeful for me.
Usva: It’s very encouraging to see other people doing stuff, being so passionate, and saying that there is hope, that there is a community that can support you, and that it is possible to create such tight communities within a week or even five days. It’s very inspiring.
Katri: I think passion is a wonderful word to close. I think [the audience] can feel the energy and inspiration and passion and that this learning has brought this group and also the whole bigger group. Continuing in that, I would encourage you to also learn, learn about these topics and find inspiration about how we can grow closer together and overcome differences in a way that doesn’t just bypass them. I would definitely recommend applying for the coming WSCF-E study sessions. I think you would all agree, but there are also a lot of other opportunities, and I really encourage you to look for them.
