History

The programme consists of several thematic stages:

2004 — the project "Ephrosinia of Polotsk — women’s leadership"

2005 — the project "Be proud of yourself — problem of gender equality"

2006-2007 — the project "Responsible parenthood: gender approach"

The aim of the programme "Gender Equality and Women’s Problems" is to work towards gender equality in Belarusian society through information and education campaigns targeting young people and development of women’s leadership.

Year 2004

The problem of gender equality and women’s leadership is of high importance to Belarus. The laws that exist in the country provide women and men with equal rights, but in reality, women are being discriminated in various spheres of social and family life. The project, aimed at gender equality promotion was started by YWCA of Belarus in 2004. The first Belarusian-Swedish project was called "Ephrosinia of Polotsk — women’s leadership". This name of the project was suggested, surprisingly, by Anita Andersson, ex-president of World YWCA, project coordinator from Sweden. To be more correct, she suggested to name the project after some prominent Belarusian woman, who did a lot for enlightenment. That is why the name of Ephrosinia was put in the title of the project.

The project of 2204 was implemented together with the Union of Sisterhoods of Belarusian Orthodox Church. The aim of the project was to organize joint education course for the members of YWCA and sisters on the topic of elimination of discrimination of women in social and family life, to teach them how to defend their rights and become more self-confident. Both organizations learned a lot from each other — knowledge on gender issues from one side and role of women in thу parish from the other.

Two five-days schools (in autumn and winter) of women leadership were held together with the Union of Sisterhoods of Belarusian Orthodox Church. The topics, covered during these schools, were: women’s leadership developments in different spheres, including project management, computer skills, English language for computer users, Bible studies. In frames of these two schools 17 sisters and 18 members and volunteers of YWCA of Belarus were trained. The age of participants was 18 to 52 years. The age of sisters was older than planned, as it corresponded to the real age structure of the members of Sisterhoods, but their need for new knowledge was great. But difference in age hasn’t influenced the relationships. All participants got along well with each other and even become friends. The classes were organized by the trainers from Belarus, a trainer from KFUK-KFUM Sweden, partners from the Sisterhoods. Later the participants used the knowledge they got in their local associations.

The classes were organized by the experts: highly skilled trainers from Belarus and one trainer from KFUK-KFUM (Anna-Kristina Lenneby), as well as by two partners from the Sisterhood (a priest and a theologist). After 2 shcools 4 new members (former volunteers) joined our association. The work of the schools was highly appreciated by the participants, and there were wishes expressed to continue this kind of activities to involve other girls and women in such studies. That is why both organisations wrote a project proposal in March 2005 on women’s leadership development. It was sent to one of the European foundations, but, unfortunately, was not supported.

Year 2005

In 2005 in frames of Belarusian-Swedish cooperation the training of trainers for gender education of teenage girls was started. The project was called "Be proud of yourself — problem of gender equality". The idea of the project was to translate the knowledge about gender inequality that exists in, about the advantages of relationships of equality, about the necessity of creation of equal opportunities for self-development of men and women.

This project was a pilot one, as the educational work among young girls on gender equality has just begun. YWCA of Belarus had experience of work on gender issues with grown-up women. What concerns younger girls that was the first time for us. That is why it was very important to understand the specifics of the target groups, their psychological peculiarities.

To implement gender education programme for teen-age girls 16  members and volunteers of YWCA were selected and trained, who later became trainers-multipliers of the project. In December 2005 they were trained during three-day seminar-training on gender issues.

During the seminar-training the participants:

• received theoretical knowledge on gender theories,
• learned about the results of national sociological research on gender stereotypes in mass consciousness of Belarusians,
• learned about social and psychological characteristics of men and women,
• learned about statistical data about the position of Belarusian men and women in political, economic and family spheres,
• learned about the issues of gender equality in sphere of legislation,
• learned about the images of women and men in mass media,
• learned about policies on gender equality in Belarus,
• learned about state policies on gender equality in Sweden,
• learned about position of women and men in Swedish society,
• learned about methods of educational work with teenagers in frames of gender education programme,
• discussed the topics of their future trainings.

As experts specialists with high qualifications from Belarusian State University, European Humanities University, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare were invited. All participants were provided with necessary learning tools: books, reference books, description of methods of work with teenagers.

During the following month 16 participants created their own trainings on gender issues for teenage girls.

In January 2006 the final working meeting was organized, where these trainings were discussed. The participants presented parts of their trainings, recorded on the video, which was later analyzed by the experts and other participants.

Each trainer organized 2 trainings for teenage-girls in their home towns (Bobruisk, Baranovichy, Minsk, Mozyr, Novopolotsk, Smorgon). The aim of these trainings was to familiarize high school students with gender equality problem, to activate their critical thinking when they deal with gender stereotypes, to teach them new models of behavior when they communicate with the representatives of the opposite sex and within the family.

The topic of the trainings, created by the participants:

• nature of relationships between boys and girls,
• relationships within the family,
• reflection of women’s image in advertising and mass media,
• choice of future occupation,
• attitude towards female beauty,
• true human values in parson’s life and so on.

Interactive methods were used in all trainings: mini-drama, brainstorming, working in small groups, testing (the level of knowledge on certain issues), drawing, including development of communication skills, creative workshops (for example thematic collages), role games (fairy tales), reflection (self-analysis, self-esteem), and active games.

Totally 256 teenagers took part in the trainings, mainly girls. There were 22 boys, which constitutes about 9% of all participants.

All trainings, including the description of methods of works were published in the handbook "Gender education". This publication can be used as guidelines which were already tested. It is intended for social workers and teachers for extra-curricular activities with high-school students.

The efficiency of the trainings was tested by using pre- and post-training tests. Comparison of these questioners has shown up till 50% increase of the level of awareness on gender equality issues.

After all trainings were held three best trainers were invited to visit Sweden in March 2005 and had an opportunity to practice in Kistagården. Our trainers got acquainted with methods of work with young people, with lifestyles and state policies of Sweden, which helped them to get a deeper understanding of the idea of gender equality.

Year 2006

During 2006 the process of training of educators was continued. More attention was paid to the relationships of men and women in pre-marital period and during the first years after marriage.

In November 2006 a 3-days training for 15 graduates of project-2005 and 2 new participants was organized. There were 2 young mothers with babies under one years old among the participants. The topic of the training was "Responsible parenthood: gender approach". The aims of the training were to deepen the knowledge on gender equality, to re-estimate the roles of a mother and a father, to study new methods of work with high-school students on responsible attitude towards family planning and parenthood.

One Swedish and 7 Belarusian experts were invited.

The topics, that were taken up during the training:

• family and its role in persons’ life;
• responsibility as a concept. Responsibility of women and men in contemporary family, their roles;
• history of women’s movement. Feminist attitude to motherhood;
• demographic situation in Belarus. Reproductive health of Belarusian people;
• concept of reproductive rights. Gender aspects of reproductive health issues. Woman and man as partners in reproductive health;
• family planning and methods of contraception. Health issues and history of contraception. Legal aspects of contraception. Registration in women’s clinic as one of the conditions for receiving social benefit;
• sexuality and reproductive health of women and men;
• childbirth and obstetrics. Partnership in childbirth, experience in Sweden and Switzerland;
• taking care of the baby during its first year. Roles of a mother and a father in childcare;
• gender education in Sweden. Discussion of the topic, comparative analysis of experiences;
• roles of parents in education of children. Parenthood as a social institute;
• readiness for marriage. Types of family roles.

During the practical classes the participants wrote their gender biographies, had a practical class of taking care of a newborn, played several role games on different aspects of family relationships and defined gender roles.

Group work with presentation "What do I know about pregnancy and childbirth?", "Relations between a man and a woman during pregnancy time" was held. Creative workshop "My house-my family" was organized.

In December 2006 — January 2007 experts and staff of the project worked out educational modules for high-school students: programme, recommendations and tips on organization of trainings. Hand-outs for the trainings were printed out for all trainers from Minsk, Novopolotsk, Smorgon, Baranovichy, Mozyr and Myadel. The PowerPoint presentation "Responsible parenthood: gender approach" was also elaborated.

The first stage of artistic contest "Contemporary family — Responsible parenthood" was prepared — the criteria for selection of participants.

Year 2007

On January 28, 2007 the final seminar for the trainers, was organized and the artictic contest for young people "Contemporary family — Responsible parenthood" was announced.

In spring 2007 trainers have help 34 trainings for pupils and students aged 14 to 17 years. Totally 638 persons attended these trainings, 20% of them were boys.

In Smorgon and Uzda these trainings were covered by the local mass media.

From March till May 2007 the artistic contest "Contemporary family — Responsible parenthood" was held. Totally 16 persons aged 13 to 19 years took part in this contest. They presented 20 artistic works in 3 nominations:

• Drawing/sculpture.
• Poetry/prose.
• Photo/Film.

Pieces of art created by the young people individually or in groups should have had contents or idea that reflected understanding of responsible attitude of young people to family planning and parenthood.

The jury consisted of 2 experts and 2 trainers of the project.

In May 2007 the results of the contest were announced and the winners were rewarded. All participants of the competition were invited, there were also members of jury and representatives of KFUK-KFUM Sweden. During this meeting the YWCA of Belarus and the project were presented to the audience, the short Ukrainian documentary "Who will sing a lullaby" (from the project "Gender montage") was shown.

All participants received small encouraging prizes.

Second prize was shared by the winners of nominations and they received valuable prizes:

	The nomination "Photo/film" — Svetlana Kastusik (Baranovichy)
	The nomination "Poetry/prose" — Lisa Mitsler (Novopolotsk)
	The nomination "Drawing/sculpture" — Anastasia Moroz (Mozyr)

The first prize was awarded to the participant, who was highly ranked according to all criteria — Darya Kartakova (Borisov). The essay "They say, that you cannot choose your parents" consists of two parts: essay written by the daughter and by her mother.

The winner of the contests was rewarded with the visit to the youth camp in Sweden in August 2007.

Autumn 2007 — creation of the web-site about the project.

It is planned to publish new version of the handbook "Gender education" with the add-on with best pieces of art, sent to the contest.