Description
E-VIP Project: Equality through Volunteering, Innovation, Professionalization proposed by FILIA Center aims to fructify youth interest in politics and increasing their knowledge on gender policies. The main objective of the project is to attract and professionalize 15 volunteers in the field of gender equality during a period of 10 months, by organizing a Fall School on the gender equitable policies and thorough transfer of best practices with min. 3 NGOs in the field of gender equality. The project responds to Centre FILIA’s needs by: developing skills of volunteers in the field of gender equality and advocacy; building capacity among members and volunteers, especially in terms of writing projects and fundraising; development and diversification of educational services offered by organization and increase financial sustainability accreditation for three courses with particular relevance to the specific activity of the FILIA Centre. Direct beneficiaries: FILIA Centre, 15 volunteers, 5 FILIA members, 10 volunteers from other NGOs in the field, 30 members of civil society.
Summary of project results
According to Eurobarometer 2013 on volunteering, Romania recorded only 5% of persons involved in volunteering activities. In the same time, Romania is among the European countries with lowest civic involvement of citizens through volunteering, especially in activities promoting gender equality. However, Romania registers a slight increase in interest, in particular of young people, in politics. Throughout the project, the Promoter intended to use the interest of young people in politics in order to engage them in volunteering activities promoting gender equality and women’s rights. The project team did that by organising a volunteering programme focused on developing competencies in the field of gender policies. 25 volunteers were involved in volunteering activities throughout the project. The activities, designed to increase both the participation of young people as well as their competencies in gender policies, were: a winter school regarding Gender Policies ("What are gender policies and how do we promote them?"), writing of articles for Gender Policies Brochure, involving volunteers in advocacy activities as they wrote 14 petitions and public requests of information with the purpose to combat gender discrimination and gender prejudices and to gather data about gender inequalities. To develop the volunteers at their full potential, they were also involved in project management activities. They organised 5 workshops for promoting gender equality and non-discrimination, combating gender stereotypes and different forms of violence against women. In the same period, they organised 12 debates about movies and documentaries regarding women’s rights and gender equality. The Promoter also organised an exchange event with members and volunteers from other 8 NGOs that are promoting democratic values and human rights. 7 FILIA volunteers and members also participated, and the event contributed to strengthening solidarity between causes and developing the level of dialogue and consultation on organisational development and on the work that everybody is doing in the field of human rights. 10 volunteers and 5 members of FILIA developed their competencies on project writing, community organising and graphic facilitation, competencies that will be useful in the future for the good implementation of volunteers' strategy and activities.
Summary of bilateral results