Youth Exchange (UN)DOING GENDER
1 - 9 June 2019 | Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia, Spain
What is it?
(un)Doing Gender is a youth exchange with the aim to give the opportunity to explore in a safe way and space, a healthy relationship in young people with their sexuality and gender through the development of competencies to understand oneself and others, as well as through raising awareness and develop the ability to navigate the often contradictory narrative on gender related issues today.
What for?
Objectives of the project:
- To increase knowledge about gender issues, concepts, history, and narratives;
- To raise self-awareness of young people about how to approach in a healthy way gender-related matters in a process of self-discovery;
- To create a safe space for young people to discuss genderrelated issues and foster their participation as protagonists, in guaranteeing a safe, inclusive society based on a shared and healthy belonging of all individuals;
- To explore gender expressions, its diversity and its connection and/or relation with others (family, friends, community, etc.);
- To develop inclusive communication skills on gender-related issues in young people;
- To initiate a process on interlinking European young people as ambassadors of diversity and respect.
How?
Methodology used in the youth exchange:
- During the youth exchange the participants went through a self- directing learning process accompanied by their peers and the facilitators. Τhe Youthpass was used as a self-directing learning tool and the participants had the opportunity to take responsibility for their own learning, step by step.
- Within the 7 working days the participants enjoyed activities for their personal growth, creative workshops, intercultural evening and a free afternoon.
- Each of the groups had a Team Leader, who was managing the process and helping participants to go through the whole week.
What were the results?
From the two main topics of this project, it was possible to work on aspects concerning identity, expression and healthy belonging, among others. The participants were able to explore more about themselves, others and their place in this equation, in order to work together in a harmonious way.
Young people are not only the future, as more important, they are the present. For that reason, they should feel included in a society that accepts their voice and they should have the necessary information and tool to listen and welcome voices coming from any part of the spectrum. Although most young people do not feel heard, they can be the change makers to overcome prejudice and promote the social inclusion of all individuals. Culture and gender are supporting pillars of today’s dialogue and diversity and, for that reason, the basis of work to develop skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours on young people.
We used Youthpass for enhancing the learning process of the participants; and non-formal activities to learn more about personal development and gender-related issues, not only with practical tools but also on a deeper understanding of themselves and on the topic. The main competencies that participants achieved are:
- social and civic competence,
- cultural awareness and expression.
At the same time, the participants developed more competences as learning to learn, sense of initiative and communication in foreign languages. This last one means participants had the ability to understand, express and interpret concepts, thoughts, feelings, facts, and opinions in their own personal, familial and social contexts according to one's needs. Also, during the youth exchange, this competence called for skills such as mediation and intercultural understanding. Learning to learn was an useful asset in this project and, in order to pursue and persist in learning and satisfying their needs, to organize their own learning, using self-directing learning, both individually and in groups. Through this methodology, participants gained, processed and assimilated new knowledge and skills, by using the guidance of the facilitators and peers. This learning were also focused on the future, once they can apply it in other contexts.
Last but not least, the participants had the opportunity to work on their sense of initiative and entrepreneurship. By working on themselves and on the topic at different levels, participants could also focus their energy into turning their ideas into action. Through all the days, but especially with the follow-up activity and Human Creative Labs, the youngsters relied on their creativity, innovation, and risk-taking.