Description
The project addresses the need to ensure gender quality and respect for women’s rights in small communities. The project aims at raising awareness about gender equality among young people via the Forum Theater method. First, the project will be presented at 10 public fora held in 10 small towns in Pleven District. Second, 10 art discussions on gender equality will take place in the 10 towns. 30 local secondary school students will be selected to organize and moderate gender clubs. Third, gender-oriented Forum Theater methodology will be developed. Next, 4-day training of the 30 students will be organized. Then gender clubs will be set up in 10 secondary schools. Finally, the gender clubs will be presented at a forum attended by all the stakeholders. The project will benefit the students, their families, teachers, as well as gender-related NGOs and local institutions from the small communities in Pleven District. The partner will develop the gender-oriented Forum Theater methodology.
Summary of project results
Despite the fact that gender equality has been regulated in legislation, certain attitudes and prejudices thrive in the communities of small villages and towns that violate civil and human rights based on gender. The project promoter's survey established that there are still instances of lack of respect towards gender equality, violence and lack of respect for fundamental human rights, lack of public sensitivity and insufficient awareness which impact the lifestyle in these places. Thus the project aimed at overcoming the negative attitudes towards gender equality among school-age adolescents in the small towns that are municipal centres in Pleven District. The project helped launch a discussion in the small towns on issues related to gender equality and protection of human rights based on gender. Young people managed to let go of the inherited traditional patriarchal prejudices regarding the social role of women. The young people were delegated rights and responsibilities via the 10 youth clubs set up under the project to organize independently not only discussions but also other youth initiatives. More than 600 young people from 10 towns and villages took part in the project activities. 30 youth leaders from the local communities were trained to take things in their hands and continue to organize youth activities with the support of the leading organization and the management of the 10 secondary schools and actively involve their peers in them. The developed methodology for discussion of gender issues and the tools of the Forum-theatre model were also disseminated among other organizations and the local community centres.
Summary of bilateral results