Yhdessä (Together): A documentary photo project on inclusion and friendship in Finnish schools

Photographer and Artistic Coordinator: Mariajose Silva-Vargas

Project Coordinator: Ottavia Brussino

This gallery features photos from a J-PAL-funded evaluation of student workshops aimed at fostering inclusion in Finnish schools. The documentary photography project blends rigorous research with visual storytelling, capturing the tangible, human experiences at the heart of J-PAL’s mission.

Yhdessä Photo Project © Mariajose Silva-Vargas - not for external use

Students participating in Kytke workshops in Helsinki.

As in many European countries, Finland's population is becoming increasingly diverse. In the capital, Helsinki, 18 percent of its residents speak a foreign language as their native language. Schools are becoming more multicultural, yet many children of immigrant parents don't feel fully Finnish or accepted. Initiatives like Kytke are stepping up with dedicated workshops in Finnish schools to address these challenges. Kytke, meaning "connect" in Finnish, encapsulates the essence of the Kytke programme.

Delivered by the Finnish NGO Walter, Kytke operates through dedicated workshops in which former and current athletes and artists with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds join Finnish primary school students in navigating discrimination, racism, inclusion, and community building. Speakers share personal experiences and encourage students to share their feelings and thoughts, thereby challenging stereotypes. Kytke aims to combat racism and discrimination by fostering broad-mindedness. Some of the activities include listening to the speakers' backgrounds and stories or sitting in a circle and sharing experiences with classmates in a safe space.

This documentary photo project portrays the impact evaluation of the Kytke workshops. The ongoing evaluation is conducted by J-PAL affiliated professor Michela Carlana and coauthors Matti Sarvimäki, Mikko Silliman, and Marco Tabellini, researchers based at Harvard and Aalto University. The evaluation is funded through J-PAL Europe’s European Social Inclusion Initiative.

Background

In March 2024, J-PAL Europe staff leading the photo documentary participated in various Kytke workshops in Finnish schools and gave students digital cameras to capture their experiences in the workshops. The documentary follows a dual-lens approach: blending professional portraits taken by Mariajose Silva-Vargas (Research and Policy Manager, J-PAL Europe) with the personal snapshots taken by students. This method not only enriches the visual narrative but also mirrors the blend of external observations and personal insights, which reflects the experiences of researchers and participants in impact evaluations or development projects more broadly.

The idea of the photo documentary stemmed from the experiences in visual storytelling of J-PAL Europe staff leading the photography project. Mariajose Silva-Vargas, a development economist and photographer, worked as a researcher and photographer in impact evaluations on refugee integration in Uganda and was recently featured in Photo VOGUE. Ottavia Brussino (Senior Policy and Training Associate, J-PAL Europe) managed communications and organised exhibitions worldwide for a photography project led by children in a refugee camp in Greece. You can read more about the ethics, process, and motivation behind the project in this blog post.

Workshop participants: Students

The Kytke workshops are specifically designed to engage students who attend Finnish schools, representing a diverse array of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. This diversity enriches the workshops, providing a wealth of perspectives and experiences for students to explore. By fostering an inclusive environment where all voices are valued, Kytke empowers these young learners to embrace their identities, challenge stereotypes, and develop empathy towards others. Through meaningful dialogue and reflection, students are encouraged to celebrate their cultural heritage while also fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the diverse tapestry that makes up Finnish society.

The Kytke workshops are tailored to engage students from Finnish schools, reflecting a diverse range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

A student participating in Kytke workshops in Helsinki with a diverse background: his mother is from Finland, and his father is from Ukraine. Born and raised in Germany, he speaks Finnish, Russian, Swedish, English, German, and Ukrainian, and understands Croatian. He, along with his classmates, represents the variety of backgrounds present in Finnish schools today.

Kytke operates through dedicated workshops in which former and current athletes and artists with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds join Finnish primary school students in navigating discrimination, racism, inclusion, and community building. Speakers share personal experiences and encourage students to share their feelings and thoughts, thereby challenging stereotypes.

Some of the activities include listening to the speakers' backgrounds and stories or sitting in a circle and sharing experiences with classmates in a safe space.

The Kytke team

The Kytke team is a vibrant blend of cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Formed by former and current athletes and artists with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, the team share personal experiences in the workshops and encourage students to share their feelings and thoughts, thereby challenging stereotypes.

Jan, a former professional basketball player from Finland and Germany, played in both the United States and Germany before moving to Finland. Nicole, who is Finnish-American, was a member of the Finnish under-17 national football team and later explored the arts of acting and boxing. Aleksi, with Finnish and Nigerian roots, works as a TV sports host and racer. Helin, whose parents come from Turkish Kurdistan, brings a passion for classical music and violin to the team.

Jan Wieland, Walter ry director of school programmes, including Kytke. Jan is a former professional basketball player from Finland and Germany and he played in both the United States and Germany before moving to Finland.

Nicole Stiles, Kytke project coordinator and speaker in the workshops. She is Finnish-American and she was a member of the Finnish under-17 national football team. She later explored the arts of acting and boxing. As workshop speaker, she shares personal experiences, encouraging students to express their feelings and thoughts and challenge stereotypes.

Aleksi and Helin, speakers in the Kytke workshops. Aleksi, with Finnish and Nigerian roots, works as a TV sports host and racer. Helin, whose parents come from Turkish Kurdistan, brings a passion for classical music and violin to the team.

The research team

To assess the impact of the Kytke workshops, the team partnered with researchers for a rigorous evaluation. The ongoing evaluation is led by J-PAL affiliated professor Michela Carlana and coauthors Matti Sarvimäki, Mikko Silliman, and Marco Tabellini, researchers based at Harvard and Aalto University, and funded through J-PAL Europe’s European Social Inclusion Initiative. Researchers have been conducting a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the causal impact of the workshops on various outcomes, including reducing discrimination and bullying and fostering friendship and social cohesion.

J-PAL affiliated professor Michela Carlana (Harvard University) during her visit to the Paris School of Economics in May 2024. Along with other researchers at Aalto University, she is evaluating the impact of Kytke on various outcomes, including reducing discrimination and bullying and fostering friendship and social cohesion.

J-PAL invited researcher Matti Sarvimäki (Aalto University) is part of the team evaluating the impact of the Kytke program.

Students' perspectives through their lenses

To implement the dual-lens approach of the documentary, cameras were given to students during the workshops, encouraging them to capture their reflections and perspectives on the workshop's themes. These are some of the snapshots they took.

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Disclaimer

The realisation of this project would not have been possible without the support of Kytke staff Jan Wieland and Nicole Stiles and guidance by researchers: J-PAL affiliated professor Michela Carlana, Matti Sarvimäki, Mikko Silliman, and Marco Tabellini. Funding for this photography project was awarded by J-PAL in the context of J-PAL's 20th anniversary.

Photographies in this documentary are copyrighted material and all rights are reserved. © Mariajose Silva-Vargas (for initial pictures); © Students participating in Kytke workshops (for students' snapshots).