Diversity in volunteer activities

1. Diversity in volunteer activities

2. Themes and contents of the training Introductions Norms and social conventions Prejudices Equality Accessibility in volunteer activities

3. Diversity in volunteer activities Norms and social conventions Prejudices Equality Accessibility in volunteer activities

4. Norms and socialconventions

5. Write down the instruction on how to behave in one of the following situations: At the store checkout On the bus At a concert

6. Norms • Norms are assumptions of how people are and how they should be. • Norms are related to our assumptions of ‘normality’ or ‘normal behaviour.’ • It can often be difficult to define where a norm comes from or who set it. • Norms tend to contain the notion of universalism – my thought holds true with everyone. • Norms are also related to power structures: Those in power or the majority are often in the position to define, produce or reform norms. • The larger and more diverse the group is, the likelier it is to have several norms. This also makes it possible that not everyone shares the same norms or that some norms contradict each other.

7. Examples of norms • ‘The Finnish Coffee Culture’, part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHK6HkKhoHk • Bathing in the sauna and nakedness, parties and alcohol? • FRC slang: ‘VOKKI, MIGRI, VAPEPA, NäPä, HETU…’ • Questioning norms: sometimes worthwhile. • Norms can be broken for many reasons – often unintentional.

8. Rules of fair play in volunteer activities • Red Cross volunteers are governed by such rules as the principles of the Red Cross, ethical guidelines and the Non-discrimination Act (the rights and obligations of a volunteer). • Each activity group also defines its own internal rules. • These rules may be based on normative expectations and assumptions that are not necessarily shared by everyone. • Creating trust, interaction and understanding is an important process.

9. Diversity in volunteer activities Norms and social conventions Prejudices Equality Accessibility in volunteer activities

10. Prejudices

11. Exercise on similarity When a picture is shown: You can take one step forward for each similarity with yourself that you find in the picture.

18. What is visible, what is not? Superficial Gender, skin colour, dress, body, age, name, language, disability. Cultural characteristics: food, music, celebrations i.e. visible, audible Family, origin, upbringing, geographical location, ethnicity, nationality, faith/religion, concept of human being, worldview, education, social class, life experience, sexuality, work experience, interests, skills, assets, political opinion, attitudes, values, travels, culture, social relations, attitude towards the power hierarchy, feelings, etc. Deep other differences Humanity: Joy, sorrow, success, adversities, health, sickness, love The need to live, live together, be needed Personality My unique experience, personality that separates me from others in my group

19. Exercise on presumptions

20. Prejudices Everyone has prejudices – they arise from the need to understand the world and categorise things and phenomena. It is more harmful when you are not ready to renounce or address them. Prejudices can develop at the first encounter (even in seconds) or based on what you have heard (no personal experience). A single definition of a person can be enough to evoke prejudice, e.g. ‘asylum seeker’ or ‘mother.’

21. Prejudices and the media Yle.fi, 12 September 2016

22. Final discussion What is good about prejudices? What harm can prejudices do? How can you get rid of prejudices?

23. Diversity in volunteer activities Norms and social conventions Prejudices Equality Accessibility in volunteer activities

24. Why was the Red Cross founded?

25. Equality and fundamental rights Each person has the right to be treated equally, and everyone has the same rights. Internationally: Human rights agreements and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. In Finland The Constitution: ban on discrimination Other legislation: Non-discrimination Act, Act on Equality between Women and Men, Employment Contracts Act, Criminal Code

26. Non-discrimination Act The grounds for discrimination specified in the Non-discrimination Act are the following: Age Ethnic or national origin Nationality Language Religion Belief Opinion State of health Disability Sexual orientation Other personal characteristics

27. Equality and the Red Cross Impartiality is one of the seven fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Red Cross makes no discrimination as to nationality, religious beliefs, race, political opinions, or class. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

28. Who do you help first? Why? Exercise on the need for help

29. Diversity in volunteer activities Norms and social conventions Prejudices Equality Accessibility in volunteer activities

30. Accessibility

31. 1) Accessibility of movement - No physical obstacles 2) Accessibility of communication - Accessibility of required information and communications (e.g. clear language) 3) Attitudinal accessibility - How does the community accept you, how can you get in? 4) Social accessibility - Affects the attitudes within the community and the individual’s ability to function in it Accessibility

32. Privilege walk

33. You receive information about the activities of the Red Cross in your native language or a language that you speak well. You can get to the branch’s board meeting without having to think about stairs or thresholds. Your background or other attributes have never limited the tasks that you have been offered with the Red Cross. You feel that your branch mates listen to you and take your opinions seriously. Even though you do not wear a volunteer vest or name tag in all your Red Cross activities, people can easily believe that you are a Red Cross volunteer. You have never had to explain or hide your sexual orientation when interacting with your fellow volunteers. The advertisements and website of the Red Cross feature pictures of people you can identify with. You want to take a half-full Hunger Day collection box to a meeting of your group of friends and fill it. You are trusted and receive the box without questions. No one has called you a girl in the FRC’s activities.

34. Accessible and equal activities Questionsforthebranch/group: Dowehelpwithoutdiscrimination? Howequalaredifferentpeople’sopportunitiestoparticipateinouractivities? Someonein a wheelchair? Can a personwith a hearingorvisualimpairmentvolunteerwithus? DopeopleneedtobeabletospeakperfectFinnishinouractivities? Doweutilisetheskillsofdifferentkindsofpeopleequally? Howdoourcommunicationsreachdifferenttargetgroups? Howdoesdiversitybenefitourorganisation?

35. Reasonable accommodation = changes and arrangements carried out in each situationto improve accessibility. What kind of reasonable accommodations would be possible for this branch/group? Accessible and equal activities

36. Equality is not a matter of choice Equality brings together many of the core principles and values of the Red Cross. Non-discrimination, impartiality, neutrality, humanity and the need for help define our activities. When our activities include people from different backgrounds, our organisation becomes stronger. Better qualifications for understanding the different needs of people Our skill base expands, new and different perspectives come forth, and we also gain new kinds of expertise in e.g. languages and cultures. By including everyone, we also combat discrimination and promote equality. The ability to function in a diverse society is an important skill these days for both individuals and organisations.