InQubator of public participation

Description

The project InQubator of public participation is focusing on developing the skills and knowledge of young people in the field of activism and civil society. These young people are chosen from the LGBT+ community in Košice, where people are not too much tolerate to the LGBT+ people. The organization will organize 5 educational programs which are mainly intended for young LGBT+ people who are interested in getting involved in NGO activities and various initiatives and are interested in public affairs, but have lack of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The ambition of the project is to support civic participation of these young people. More information about the educational programs:

1. PRIDE Lab will be attended by 20 participants. It is an intensive educational program consist of 15 workshops on topics such as the history of the LGBT movement, the basics of advocacy, fundraising, etc.
2. KompAkt will be attended by 15 participants (30 in total). The program consists of 8 workshops on topics such as project management, team management, basics of advocacy and campaigning, etc.
3. coLAB will run from June to November 2022. The program consists of 12 webinars on topics such as leadership, meeting facilitation, time management, campaign management, etc.
4. New Media Against Hate will be attended by 15 participants. The program consists of 12 webinars focused on working with social networks, building audiences and communities, etc.
5. Fundamentals of Advocacy and Civic Participation will be attended by 15 participants. The program consists of two offline meetings, up to 10 hours of theoretical training, individual mentoring, 9 group sessions and 9 months of practical part, where participants will work on the issues / areas they have chosen.

The role of the partner organization Oslo Pride AS will be to host the Dúha na východe team in Oslo during the partnership visit, also mentoring and active involvement or consultations to the young people etc.

Summary of project results

The main focus of the project was on the situation of LGBTI people in Slovakia, particularly young individuals. These young people strive to actively engage not only in community activities but also in broader societal endeavors. Many of them display leadership skills or have the potential to become leaders. Others are interested in being part of various community activities. The project, through its activities, also aimed to address the societal attitude in Slovakia, which is not very positive towards the LGBTI community.

The project also addressed the current situation in Slovakia, where members of the LGBTI community often face negative comments and discrimination, leading to feelings of depression and non-acceptance, especially among young people.

During its implementation, the project also responded to the events of October 12, 2022, when two individuals were murdered, and one person was injured in front of the Tepláreň café on Zámocká Street in Bratislava. This location was a frequented gathering place for the local LGBT community, and the motive for the attack was hatred towards LGBT people.

As part of the project, five educational programs were implemented: Advocacy and Civic Participation Basics, New Media Against Hatred, PRIDE Lab, coLab, and kompAkt.

1. Advocacy and Civic Participation Basics:

   • 17 participants enrolled in the program, slightly exceeding the originally planned 15.
   • Over 20 webinars were conducted.
   • Webinar topics included lobbying and advocacy for the rights of transgender people.

2. New Media Against Hatred:

   • 21 participants enrolled in the program, seven more than originally planned.
   • Webinars were conducted with both smaller and larger groups on various topics.
   • Participants were divided into smaller groups based on their experience with working with text.

3. PRIDE Lab:

   • 21 participants enrolled in the program, which started in March 2022.
   • During the spring and summer months of 2022, participants actively contributed to the preparation of the PRIDE Košice event, which took place in August 2022.

4. coLab:

   • 16 participants enrolled in the program, which started in March 2022.
   • Prominent non-governmental organizations focusing on human rights and specifically addressing LGBTI+ issues were involved in this program, including the Association of Parents and Friends of LGBT+ People, Rainbow Scouting, Light Fif UK, Lotosové kvety, Rainbow Families, and Saplinq.

5. kompAkt:

   • 32 participants enrolled in the program.
   • Participants in this program implemented several projects, such as Rainbow Shorts, Rainbow School, Out of Closet, and We Are Here: Visibility of People with Fluid Sexual Orientation.

The project successfully implemented five mentioned courses. Due to the participants'' interest (with a total of 401 individuals engaged in project activities) and effective project and financial management, the project organizers were able to conduct bonus courses in some instances, thereby training more participants. In total, 107 participants took part in the project''s courses. Here is a breakdown of the participation in each course:

1. Advocacy and Civic Participation Basics: 17 participants
2. New Media Against Hatred: 21 participants
3. PRIDELab: 21 participants in both tracks
4. coLab: 16 participants
5. kompAkt: 32 participants across all three program tracks

Additionally, the project successfully organized two strategic meetings of organizations working with the LGBTI+ community in response to the events on Zámocká Street, where two young LGBTI individuals were murdered. The project also included a study visit to a partner in Norway.

The educational programs brought together many talented individuals, both experienced and beginners, totaling a diverse group of participants. These programs provided a platform for participants to share experiences and knowledge with each other. The courses were highly practical, and some, especially kompAkt, led to real activities in the communities.

Summary of bilateral results

The partner from the donor country brought to the project mainly the opportunity to exchange experiences in topics in which it has valuable experience. Among other things, the opportunity for members of the Rainbow team in the east and some participants to go on a study visit to Norway and have the opportunity to discuss with a foreign partner there was also a benefit. The applicant has been cooperating with OSLO Pride for a long time and this is not the first joint project. For the partner, this cooperation also meant an opportunity to build up their experience, but also to gain valuable knowledge about how similar problems are solved in different countries. The result of the cooperation was a study visit to Norway in March 2023, where representatives of the Rainbow in the East traveled, o.z. The concrete results were the sharing of case studies in topics that are crucial for the project and project implementers: cooperation of OSLO Pride with rainbow families that have their own PRIDE and cooperation with companies.The project was not the first collaboration between Dúh na výchát, o.z. and Oslo PRIDE. This project strengthened cooperation and outlined topics for further cooperation in the future.