Bystander workshop

This workshop empowers participants to step up as active bystanders when witnessing discrimination in the university environment and beyond. Participants will learn to recognise different forms of discrimination (e.g. related to race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity and disability), explore the role of intersectionality and bystander identities, and understand common barriers to intervention. The workshop equips participants with practical, safe and effective bystander strategies they can apply with confidence in real-life situations.

Places for the training are limited. To secure your spot, please register here as a staff member and here as a student.

Meet the trainers:

Minna Lyons, PhD, is a reader in Forensic Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom. Her research focuses on bystander behaviour in the context of bias-based bullying and violence. Minna has designed and delivered interactive bystander workshops in various contexts and countries, such as LGBTQ+ bullying in the workplace in Panama; sexual harassment in Universities in Colombia, Guatemala, and Peru; and bystander theatre workshops in Brazil and the UK. Minna has +20 years of experience of teaching in higher education and has been involved in numerous pedagogical projects over the years. She has published over 100 academic articles based on her varied research interest, including bystander research.

Merita Miftari is trained as a community educator and an artisan craft professional, whose work combines artistic and participatory methods. Societal issues, civil society, and theatre are her passions. Miftari has coordinated youth employment projects, led workshops based on recycled materials in India, and utilised Forum Theatre in anti-racism work through the Finnish Red Cross and Refugee Advice Centre in various parts of Finland.

Outline of the workshop:

Introductions: Objectives and aims of the workshop
Exercise: Exploring identities and privileges
Presentation and discussion: What is discrimination (including microaggressions) and how is it manifested in the university context in Finland? (Research findings)
Exercise: Understanding and interpreting microaggressions
Coffee Break
Presentation: Introduction to bystanders in discrimination
Exercise: Analysing vignettes. Small group discussions based on vignettes and lived experiences.
Presentation: Building a toolkit for active bystanders: Introduction to the 5 D’s of bystander action

Please note: The training will be held on-site only, and the primary language of instruction will be English. However, both English and Finnish are welcome in the discussions.