Sasha Spurná creates safe spaces in everyday situations

What do you do for work? 

I am part of the Learning Services team where I coordinate the mobility of incoming exchange students joining the Aalto community for one or two semesters.

What acts of inclusion do you do in your work?

When I first arrived in Finland as an exchange student, I gradually realised that the culture and the people around me started to feel like home. I believe the simple acts of equality – such as the gender-neutral language using ‘hän’, the acceptive atmosphere in the sauna, or the everyday straightforwardness in communication – helped me feel welcome and safe.

In a safe space, you dare to be who you truly are. I try to create this kind of safe space in my everyday life – for students, my colleagues, and whoever I might meet. To create a space where people can be seen, heard, and accepted the way they are, I simply try to listen to people and be present in the moment we share. We never know how meaningful that moment, or the conversation, might be for the other person – or for yourself.

Every encounter with a person is a new opportunity to learn something about them, but about myself as well. What I appreciate the most in my work is that when students who have been engaged with these principles return to their homes and countries have an impact on how the world can look like outside of Aalto and Finland. So, I like to remind myself that even small acts of EDI principles can lead to a positive chain reaction outside of your immediate surroundings.