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Description
In this project we network activists from equality organisations, strengthen groups working locally for human rights and disseminate knowledge about gender equality. We address the project to activists and leaders experiencing discouragement, doubts, loneliness and even feelings of missing the point of their initiatives. The problem we are responding to is the activist crisis and the deterioration of the situation and conditions for equality organisations in Poland. In 2020, 69% of the population supported the Women''s Strike, 95% of adults had heard of the Women''s Strike and 75% were familiar with its demands (Maison&Partners, 2020). The authorities implemented an ''anti-gender political project'' (A. Graff and E. Korolczuk, ''Who''s afraid of gender?...'') and launched a system of repression against some citizens. The socio-political situation in Poland has a strong impact on the functioning of equality NGOs. According to a report on the functioning of these organisations, leadership burnout is experienced by 52% of them. As part of the project, we are strengthening those working for equality, building their bond and community of experience. Local groups meet in four towns in Silesia region and prepare a social campaign. We organise meetings with experts, important feminist figures and a summer activist camp. Initiative groups carry out mini projects in their communities. We are preparing a Gender Equality Plan and modernising our website, which will inform people about our involvement in equality projects. The direct befeniciaries of the activities are female leaders from Będzin, Katowice, Chorzów and Chybie. Indirect befeniciaries are the inhabitants of the towns involved in the project.
Summary of project results
Symptoms of burnout, a sense of loneliness and pessimistic moods influenced by the socio-political context affected activists in our environment. The experience of the members of our Foundation was dominated by concern about the application of human rights and the feeling that gender equality and equal treatment were at risk. We observed and felt discouragement, doubts and even a lack of sense in the actions taken. We were aware that leader burnout was experienced by 52% of organizations (fakty.ngo.pl/raporty/organacyjne-rownosciowe-2019). We were convinced that the most important need in the face of the activist crisis is a sense of support, building a community, and being together. We wanted to strengthen groups operating in the field of equality, and to create a bond and community of experiences in countering disinformation and a fuller understanding of the principles of human rights and equal treatment. Another significant challenge was the professionalization of the Foundation''s activities. We wanted the activities of "Agere Aude" in the area of women''s rights to cease to be the sum of individual activities and become an important direction of our organization''s initiatives.
The project was regional in nature and focused on the issues of the activist crisis and the promotion of equality information. We implemented the planned activities and all planned products were created. We directed our activities to leaders in 4 towns in Silesia. Twelve meetings of initiative groups were held in Chybie, Katowice, Będzin and Chorzów, participants developed the shape of the equality campaign, mini-projects, and created a set of equality content, still open (links to articles, titles of films and books). There were as many as 5 meetings with experts, attended by 101 people, and it was time for important discussions. We organized a 4-day Summer Activism Camp for 30 people and a Winter Camp for 15 people participating in the project. It was filled with as many as 7 workshops with an emphasis on empowering people, which is why there were yoga, anti-burnout and artistic workshops, on social projects, on inclusive language, on counteracting hate and activist well-being. 14 cards were created with a message to the authorities, there are FB and the Foundation''s website, as well as interesting film materials (available on the YT channel). A local and direct social campaign, consisting of 25 slogans, posted on T-shirts (40), banners (9), bags (100), stimulate interaction, and are also on Facebook (12 posts, average reach 188). The partner has prepared a manual entitled: "Human rights education. "Norwegian perspective". We have posted the original and translation on the website, taking into account digital accessibility. Thanks to the project, a local network was created that connects as many as 52 people. We also carried out activities related to institutional development. A modern, responsive and functional website was created, also available to international partners. We have created and are implementing a Gender Equality Plan, which has important and still innovative substantive content (PRPs are still not mandatory or common), but also an elegant form. It has become a key element of the Agere Aude Foundation''s development strategy for 2023-2025.
The most important results are related to the activities of initiative groups and the implementation of the activist camp and winter campaign. Thanks to these tasks, a local network was created that connects as many as 52 people operating in Silesia. We assumed that 40 people would join the feminist alliance, but it is 30% more. These are citizens, involved in NGOs, in informal groups, of various ages, women (41) and men (11) in Katowice, Będzin, Chorzów and Chybie. Bonds within the initiative groups have been established or strengthened, as evidenced by regular contacts and exchange of content (articles, titles of films, books, publications) and information via instant messengers (e.g. Whatsapp or Messenger) and attendance at meetings. Bonds were also formed during the activist camp between groups. The need to establish contacts and strengthen the network is evidenced by the great interest in participating in the camp - we planned a camp for 20 people, and as many as 30 people took part in it, i.e. 50% more. The willingness to be together, build an alliance, and exchange experiences is evidenced by wide participation in the proposed activities. People who took part in the project felt tired and discouraged because they had been working for a long time, without support, they were also united by fear for democracy, the leaders knew these people and their commitment. We talked about empowerment, greater sensitivity, mindfulness also for ourselves, and higher awareness at the camp (also in the film), people assured us during the summaries. Changes also mean taking new actions - e.g. participation in a demonstration (equality march, Silesian Manifa), involvement as election observers. The changes taking place were noticed by the leaders of the initiative groups. The relationship with the partner - Terram Pacis - was strengthened through the implementation of another project. Mini projects impacted communities. The project was extended, and this time gave an opportunity to additionally strengthen and increase awareness of how to take care of yourself in the spirit of care and well-being.
Summary of bilateral results
As part of the project, we cooperated with Terram Pacis, a partner from the Donor States, a non-profit organization from Oslo, Norway. The Agere Aude Foundation has been deepening its cooperation with this partner for several years, and the goals of the project corresponded perfectly with Terram Pacis'' experience in the protection of human rights, equality education and counteracting discrimination and gender-based violence. Marta Margiel, vice-president of the Foundation, was responsible for the cooperation with Terram Pacis, the project coordinator Anna Zachurzok also participated in the team, and the partner was represented by Joseph Hategekimana. From the beginning of our activities, we organized online meetings and also cooperated by exchanging e-mails. We implemented two planned joint activities, starting with substantive consultation of the meeting programs of local initiative groups and the program of the Summer Activist Camp. During the reporting period, we received the planned substantive support from the partner. The second activity, which was on the part of the partner, consisted in preparing a set of recommendations regarding the inclusion of the gender perspective in educational activities in the field of human rights. Within the agreed deadline, the Partner prepared and delivered a textbook titled "Human rights education. Norwegian perspective", Terram Pacis'' experience in the field of training and educational projects may become a point of reference in education, including informal education, in Poland. A member of the Agere Aude Foundation translated the manual, then we prepared both versions of the publication for publication and posted it on the website www.agereaude.pl in the form of a PDF file and a text file as part of digital adaptation. We did not encounter any difficulties in bilateral cooperation at any stage of the project implementation, and there was no need to make any changes to the partnership action plan.