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Description
“Rasgar Silêncios” is a project for empowering survivors of domestic and gender violence through the autobiographical writing methodology (tool used to overcome traumatic situations). It is intended that from the workshops of autobiographical writing, a theater-multimedia show will be created whose dramaturgical material will be texts written by survivors of domestic and gender violence, thus promoting greater community awareness of this problem. A toolkit for victim support staff and other first-line professionals on how to use this methodology during support sessions is planned.
Summary of project results
Domestic violence (DV) is a public crime, but public opinion is not unanimous about its severity. Even among professionals who deal directly with survivors of domestic and gender-based violence (DGV), we find opinions that reveal serious prejudices, penalizing women. The project addresses the need to create a strategy that stimulates social empathy towards DV survivors and consequently the rejection of all forms of aggression. For this, it is essential that they have an active voice in this strategy, moving from recipients of social and psychological support to protagonists of their own change and of society.
The Rasgar Silêncios project empowered women survivors of domestic and gender-based violence through autobiographical writing workshops. Out of 79 participants, 42 completed at least six sessions, while 37 withdrew mainly due to pandemic-related interruptions and personal circumstances. The project culminated in the multimedia theater piece "Rasgar Silêncios," based on survivors'' texts, with three public performances attended by 210 people. A video of the play is available online to raise awareness and facilitate discussions on domestic violence, especially in schools.
Survivors'' testimonies and letters were shared with professionals in strategic roles and read in various public contexts, enhancing empathy. Three training sessions were held to improve the technical knowledge and empathy of professionals working with survivors. Additionally, two training sessions for security forces involved 39 agents, and one online session for jurists had 46 participants. A manual was created to help support workers apply the autobiographical writing methodology.
The project maintained a regular online presence and received media coverage, increasing its visibility. A strategic plan for CooLabora was developed, along with significant improvements in external communication and the creation of a social business supporting local producers.
In quantitative terms, the following was achieved:
- Empowered individuals: 42 women who completed the autobiographical writing workshops.
- Beneficiaries of services: 85 trainees (security forces and jurists).
- Partnerships:
- Participation in 2 national campaigns by the Portuguese government against domestic violence.
- Participation in the project monitoring committee on transparency and accountability in the social sector (Portuguese Catholic University - Porto).
- Partnerships with the Intermunicipal Commission of Beiras and Serra da Estrela (children victims of DV) and Covilhã City Council (migrants).
- Otherl project participants:
- 126 people in initial and final seminars (68 + 58).
- 60 people in the seminar on women and freedom (25/4/21).
- 56 women in 3 sessions for elderly women.
- 24 members of the Zero Violence Network.
- 210 people at the theater play.
- 37 women who did not complete the workshops.
- 23 technical staff.
- Total: 703 people.