Leading Intergenerational Dialogue
Through the MED Youth in Action (MYA) Program
My Journey as a Young Leader
When I applied to the MED Youth in Action (MYA) program, I applied as a young leader. Not as an Executive Director. Not as someone with all the answers. But as someone who believed that dialogue between generations in our community was urgently needed.
Through MYA’s support, we launched an intergenerational dialogue initiative at Mirsal focused on gender equality, cultural expectations, and family communication. The aim was clear: to create safe spaces where young people and parents could speak honestly, listen respectfully, and begin to understand one another beyond assumptions.
In our community, families navigate multiple cultural realities. Young people grow up between traditions and a rapidly changing society. Parents carry responsibility, fear, and cultural memory. The program was designed to bridge this gap through structured dialogue.
One of the most defining moments came during the first workshop. Several young participants refused to sit in discussion circles with their own parents. They said they would not feel comfortable expressing themselves openly. That moment was difficult but honest. It showed that silence often exists inside families that appear close from the outside.
As a young leader, I had to think quickly. We restructured the session, creating youth-only circles, parent-only circles, mixed groups with non-family members, and finally a full-family dialogue. Once space felt safer, conversations deepened.
In youth groups, participants spoke about pressure, double standards, and fear of being misunderstood. In parent groups, the dominant themes were protection, responsibility, and the struggle to balance cultural identity with life in Finland.
One young participant said, “Not every ‘no’ means they don’t trust us. Sometimes it’s fear.”
A parent later reflected, “I understand now that their reality is different from the one I grew up in.”
These moments showed the power of dialogue. The goal was not agreement. It was understanding.
The community impact became visible quickly. Participants reported feeling more comfortable discussing sensitive topics. Parents expressed willingness to listen more and explain decisions instead of imposing them. Young people shared that they felt heard in a new way.
One parent said, “I will try to discuss more instead of deciding alone.”
A young participant wrote, “I feel more comfortable talking about sensitive topics than before.”
The challenges were real. Conversations about gender equality often intersected with religion and culture. Discussions became emotional, especially around daughters’ freedom and sons’ responsibilities. As a young leader, I had to balance respect for cultural values with the need to encourage fairness and open dialogue. I learned that leadership is not about controlling a room. It is about holding space, especially when the room feels uncomfortable.
Through the MED Youth in Action program, I witnessed how structured dialogue can reduce tension and build empathy. I also grew personally. I learned to listen more carefully, to facilitate without imposing, and to trust the process even when discussions became intense.
Although today I serve as Executive Director of Mirsal, this experience reminded me why I began this journey as a young leader: because young people deserve to be heard, and families deserve tools to communicate better.
The MED Youth in Action program did not just support an activity. It supported transformation — in our community, and in me.
