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Description
This project addresses the problem of increasing violence and discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, and level of disability and the low level of awareness of these problems among young people and the local community in the Zawierciański and Olkuski districts. The project is intended as an addition to the local violence prevention system, which does not provide awareness-raising measures. This problem is part of the broader context, which is a political and media campaign to smear LGBT+ persons, government’s plans to withdraw from the Istanbul convention on violence, or creation by local government authorities of “LGBT free zones”. Society, especially young people, is quickly becoming radical, and acts of violence and hate-based attacks are frequent. Young people at school, including young people at vocational school, will attend 20 workshops on violence and enter a thematic art competition. Girls from a number of care facilities will attend support workshops. Motor and vocal workshops, in conjunction with a drama performance and debate about women’s rights, will be conducted at a juvenile correction facility for girls. People working in education and resocialization or in interdisciplinary teams will attend training on prevention of violence and discrimination. The local community will take part in measures such as One Bllion Raising, Living Library, and four film screenings. People who suffer violence and discrimination will be given free psychological counselling and legal advice. Support measures for girls in care facilities, who themselves frequently have experienced abuse and are especially at risk in their environments, and violence prevention measures for boys and men, will be an important part of the project. People who take part in the project will enhance their abilities to go beyond stereotypes, set boundaries, and react to prejudice and violence. The local community will have greater awareness of the problem of violence.
Summary of project results
The project responds to the problem of increasing violence and discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation and level of ability, as well as low awareness of these phenomena among young people and the local community in the districts of Zawiercie and Olkusz. The project aims to complement the local violence prevention system, which does not offer any educational activities. The problem is part of the wider context of the political and media campaign against LGBT+ people, as well as the denunciation of the so-called anti-violence convention announced by the authorities, or the establishment of ''LGBT-free zones'' by local authorities. Under such conditions, society, especially young people, is quickly radicalised, with frequent acts of violence and hate attacks.
Students from the Zawiercie district, including primary and secondary school students, took part in 21 workshops on anti-discrimination and violence. Two editions of One Billion Rising were organised, for which rehearsals took place in schools. The project also organised 4 debates on violence against women, sex education, domestic violence and anti-discrimination. The Living Library was organised for the first time in Zawiercie. The Project Promoter also organised empowerment activities for girls from the shelter for minors and the correctional institution in Zawiercie, as well as in 4 care and educational institutions in the Zawiercie district. Four feature film projects on human rights were organised. There was also an event entitled "Musical POWER against violence" - concerts and other accompanying events, including an art exhibition entitled "My rights are fundamental", a debate on combating discrimination and an educational game. People experiencing violence or discrimination could benefit from legal and psychological counselling. Probation officers, social workers, teachers and nurses attended anti-discrimination workshops and workshops on recognising early signs of distress and burnout.
Project participants, including schoolchildren, were equipped with skills to identify and challenge stereotypes, set boundaries and respond to prejudice and violence. An important element of the project was empowerment activities for girls in care, who often have a history of violence themselves and are particularly vulnerable to abuse in their communities. The local community was made aware of the phenomenon of violence and discrimination.