The Roma and Sámi people are two of Finland’s national minorities, with their own language, culture and communal identity. These groups have experienced various forms of discrimination in Finnish society. They continue to face inequality, for example in education and working life and, in the case of Sámi people in particular, in access to services in their own language.
Diak promotes responsive diversity competence especially through RDI work carried out in collaboration with Roma and Sámi communities. The aim is to increase awareness, strengthen culturally sensitive encounters with minority groups and create practical tools for advancing equality and inclusion across the social services, health care, education and church sectors. The work is grounded in community-based approaches, ethical practice and dialogue informed by the perspectives of the minority communities themselves.
The foundations of this work are community orientation, ethical practice and dialogue based on minority perspectives.
Diak’s RDI activities amplify the voices of minority groups, support community participation and strengthen professionals’ diversity competence. Diversity competence is a core element of professional expertise in future service systems.
This work is carried out through long-term collaboration with Roma and Sámi partners. The projects produce training, digital solutions, study modules and communication campaigns that support both the agency of minority communities and the competence of professionals.
The goal is to embed the practices developed in these projects into higher education, service systems and everyday encounters. At the heart of all activities is the expertise of the communities themselves and those working alongside them.