27–28 September 2025, Oulu
The “Safe Polonia” training in Oulu was a continuation of the series of trainings for the Polish community in Finland, conducted by the DiversityPL Foundation. The event brought together the local Polish community, and over two days participants learned to recognize signs of mental health crises, support people experiencing depression, and respond to situations of violence.
Similar to the Helsinki training, on the first day Danuta Sowińska spoke about risk factors and conducting conversations with people in crisis, while Subcom. Ewelina Szulczak presented intervention procedures. The second day, led by Dr. Kosma Kołodziej and Kasia Mikołajewska, focused on counteracting discrimination and practicing non-violent communication.
Participants also received the brochure “Counteracting Depression, Alienation and Discrimination”. Created by the training team, the publication is a practical guide for the Polish community in Finland. It combines knowledge about mental health, psychological first aid, and violence prevention with practical guidance on inclusive language. It supports the community in building a safe and equitable living and working environment. The brochure strengthens the skills of people working with youth and adults and will remain a permanent tool, always available to the local Polish community in Finland.
🇵🇱 The project was co-financed by the state budget within the framework of the Senate of the Republic of Poland’s support for Polonia and Poles abroad.
