The proposal «Advocacy for Gender Equality and Active Citizenship» aims to underpin gender equality in youth work inside and out of the European Union while empowering young women through human rights education to become change catalyst and activist for fundamental rights. It is a youth project bringing in 3 EU countries (UK, BG and CY) and 1 Central Asian state (KG) where gender issues need support and further consideration, especially among adolescents raising up in either conservative post-communist societies or multicultural yet heavily infiltrated by misogynist implicit bias.The proposal targets young women and men aged 18+ whose future is decided today and who can be the agents of change in the long run should we plant the seed of tolerant and inclusive societies today. More specifically, the project is to adapt and produce a set of training curriculum for gender equality and empowerment of young women using Open Educational Recourses translated into diverse European languages in addition to investment into capacity building of 20 youth workers and teachers to run and support gender local actions in partner countries. The partnership will pilot an online module for NGOs on benevolent sexism to further raise awareness on the importance of language and implicit bias in verbal interaction. The proposal envisages a youth exchange of 40 young people in Bosteri, Kyrgyzstan to provide space for intercultural learning and bridge the transformation of its participants into youth ambassadors for social inclusion, equality and diversity. The exchange will also serve as a foundation for piloting 4 locally specific Youth Gender Equality Action Plans in each partner organization and its associates by February 2021 to serve as sustainability of the culture change which will support gender equality and needs of young women in the partners and their communities after the end of the project cycle.The project should reach out to 2000 young people aged 16-30 involved into Local Action Plans attending secondary schools, universities and shelter facilities in partner countries (500 per partner) with a special emphasis on empowering the participation of young girls and women form remote rural areas and areas of lower economic development, with higher rates of unemployment and thus more susceptible to societal gender prejudice. In addition, it will provide insight into gender matters for 4000+ online viewers/visitors to social networks events and publications implemented during the local pilot phase activism.
1. To raise gender equality awareness in youth work across partner countries;2. To adapt and produce a set of modules for gender equality and empowerment of young women using OER into diverse European languages; 3. To invest into capacity building of 20 youth workers to support local gender actions; 4. To invest into youth by stimulating 50 young people to be ambassadors for social inclusion, equality and diversity; 5. To provide space for sustainable local cultural and attitudinal change
Following the Commission's Strategic Engagement for Gender Equality 2016-2019 the project aimed at promoting gender equality - a need especially visible since the pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities between women and men in almost all areas of life, both in Europe and beyond over the last 2 years. The consortium brought in 3 EU states (UK then still in) and 1 Central Asian to co-create a participatory attitude of youth as critically thinking change makers.
<< Background >> Following the Commission's Strategic Engagement for Gender Equality 2016-2019 the project aimed at promoting gender equality - a need especially visible since the pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities between women and men in almost all areas of life, both in Europe and beyond over the last 2 years. The consortium brought in 3 EU states (UK then still in) and 1 Central Asian to co-create a participatory attitude of youth as critically thinking change makers. << Objectives >> 1. To raise gender equality awareness in youth work across partner countries;2. To adapt and produce a set of modules for gender equality and empowerment of young women using OER into diverse European languages; 3. To invest into capacity building of 20 youth workers to support local gender actions; 4. To invest into youth by stimulating 50 young people to be ambassadors for social inclusion, equality and diversity; 5. To provide space for sustainable local cultural and attitudinal change << Implementation >> The project improved the notion of gender equality and empowered young women by investment in human rights education and subsequent advocacy and active citizenship. Training materials and videos have been created meeting the new post Covid-19 realities plus online, blended and face-to-face activities and mobilities in all 4 states including reaching out to 1700 offline participants in the local action plans. << Results >> 1. Improved understanding of gender-sensitive approach to youth work in partner working settings2. Young women have been supported to build confidence and advocate for their rights3. Young men have been sensitized on the importance of women‘s participation, and overcoming stereotypes and barriers4. Online dissemination and reach out - 90 000+ ppl5. Offline reach out - 1700 ppl6. 60 young people and 20 youth workers trained, 12 associated partners in 4 states have been engaged in locally