DIS Blog

Affinity Groups at DIS Stockholm

Diverse Identities & LGBTQIA+ and Allies 

Who do these two groups serve, exactly? The Diverse Identities group provides a safe space for Black and students of color to share their views on navigating life abroad as minorities. The LGBTQIA+ group is for students seeking to express their sexuality, whether they know how they identify, are amid making sense of it, or simply want to show up as an ally. 

These settings require open mindedness and empathy, Nyamusi explains, and they promote a sense of community that pushes students “to learn, relearn, and even unlearn as we live in a world which is increasingly changing every day.” 

Groups fueled by a personal passion and purpose 

With a background in activism and a vested interest in cross cultural exchange, Nyamusi finds great fulfillment from leading these affinity groups. What’s more, she’s inspired by the very students she mentors. “I’m always learning,” she grants. “The students always come with new language and new ways of tackling issues.” 

Nyamusi maintains that the affinity groups serve a worthy purpose — they encourage people to meet others from cultural contexts unlike their own. “I think it’s important to keep reminding people that voices and different communities and differences are valid. And to keep teaching and educating those around us, we must be able to have a collective space where we can create a community that has meaning.” 

Local mentors provide valuable insights 

“Students sometimes really have zero knowledge of what Sweden looks like in terms of the communities that exist,” Nyamusi acknowledges. This is a key role of the affinity groups — they show students where and how to get involved with local communities and organizations, pointing them to resources they’ll find useful or compelling. 

Drawing on the expertise of Stockholm residents, Nyamusi underscores the importance of local mentors in these affinity groups. Daphne and Saba are local Afro-Swedes who oversee Diverse Identities events, and provide cultural insights about being non-white in Sweden. Mimi, a mentor for the LGBTQIA+ group, is an activist for the RFSL (Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights), and incorporates social justice work into the events she leads.

By directing students to hairdressers, ethnic grocery stores, activist organizations, and more, the locals impart students with valuable cultural knowledge that would otherwise be difficult to find. Organized activities like neighborhood tours and restaurant outings also allow students to orient themselves in Stockholm and discover where minority identities are represented and celebrated. “The opportunity to meet locals is crucial,” Nyamusi advances, “because it acts as a bridge between Swedish culture and the American students.” 

A space for growth and friendship 

What can students expect to gain from joining either community? “Growth,” Nyamusi affirms. “They can expect to have a lot of fun, to learn, to maybe come to very sad and realistic realities, but at the same time to discover very beautiful things about being in the space, about Sweden, and about being a minority in Europe.” It’s a reciprocal environment — members are bound to learn about someone else’s lived experiences, and will inevitably share their own perspectives and knowledge as well. 

The goal of these groups is twofold: to cultivate a welcoming learning environment and to give students the chance to build friendships. A place for students to make connections right off the bat, these communities are ideal for newcomers who are all in the same boat at the semester’s start.  

An impactful learning environment

As the term progresses, the atmosphere becomes increasingly conducive to learning — from each other, from Nyamusi, from the locals, and from simply spending more time in Stockholm. Nyamusi is deliberate in nurturing a setting of inclusivity and compassion. As she puts it, “It’s a place that you can make mistakes and feel like there’s that leniency that can allow you to make mistakes and still learn and not feel condemned.” 

Notably, while these groups are educative for the people within them, their impact extends past the scope of the group itself. “These groups are much more than activism and community,” Nyamusi asserts. “Because as much as they do empower the community within, I think it finds its way also to empower and educate the people outside the community.” 

For anyone unsure of what to expect as a minority studying abroad in Scandinavia, attending an affinity group event is a good first step. If you are looking to situate yourself and find belonging abroad, come to the space open minded and ready to listen.  

You’ll reap the benefits, Nyamusi affirms: “I cannot tell you that whoever came to the club went back without having learned anything. The space kind of changes a person’s view of whatever they knew about Sweden.”