How the idea of the project came up

At the end of 1990ies we met the representatives of KFUK-KFUM Sweden (YWCA-YMCA of Sweden). This is a sister organization for us, which is also a part of international network — World YWCA (World Young Women Christian Association). In Sweden this organization was esteblished over 100 years ago, it has numerous members, unites both men and women and has a developed network of local organization around the country, along with the stable financial situation, rich traditions and support from the state and church.

The first acquaintance took place in Lida, Grodno region, in 1999 during the international meeting where we presented our project "Violence against women as a social problem". The project was aimed at informing peopleу about the issue of domestic violence against women. Our Swedish colleagues showed great interest to the topic and methods of our work. They immediately proposed to start cooperation and we agreed with pleasure.

During the next couple of years we organized seminars-trainings for Belarusian girls on violence against women prevention and counteraction to discrimination of women. These were 1-or 2-days training in Belarus, where we invited Belarusian and Swedish trainers and experts. Basically we had self-defense classes and psychological trainings on building self-confidence. Our trainers and participants were invited to Sweden to exchange experience and to establish contacts. Also we had visits by younger and older members and volunteers from different regions of Sweden. Personal contact were strengthened, some of them became long-term friendship relationships.

One should say, that Sweden is an example of a country, where equality of sexes — gender equality has reached very high level, although Swedes themselves say that they still have problems in sphere of equality of men and women. However, for us not only the state policies dealing with gender equality issues, but the relationships of men and women in their daily life were interesting and surprising. This is, probably, is one of the hidden reasons of the efficiency of social security system, which is one of the best in the world. Not only men but also women define the priorities of the development of the country, work hard to achieve equal opportunities for both genders in society and within the family. That is why the situation, when the prime-minister takes a sick leave when his children are sick, while his wife goes to work, because it is necessary for her carrier is understandable. For us it seems to be incomprehensible. There are many young fathers with prams on the streets, much more than young mothers. Young man on the roller-skates with pram racing though the alleys of Stockholm is nothing surprising for Swedes, but it makes us turn around. Young father, changing diaper to a baby, rocking it to sleep, singing a lullaby for his daughter or son is a very touching and unusual picture for us. By watching life in Sweden we understood, that the idea of gender equality which is implemented in the reality is humane as it provides both men and women with an opportunity for self-improvement in their family life and careers. A baby who is taken care of not only by mothers, but by fathers as well is happy. Women after giving birth are not pushed to the domestic sphere only, because their husbands are actively helping them to take care of the children. And the men, who spend time with heir children, fill their lives not only with new chores, but with new joys, communication with their small and helpless little ones.

Since 1995 in Belarus the issue of having a gender equality policy was taken up at the highest level. By signing the Beijing Platform of Action adopted at the 4th International Women’s Forum (1995, Beijing) our government took up the responsibility to take action to achieve gender equality not only in rights, but also in opportunities for men and women. That is why our interests had matched the state plans to implement gender equality policies. We started to think of bringing the idea of unacceptability of discrimination of women to masses, about creation of equal opportunities for our women to have the right to choose their way to live.

Our organization had already had positive experience in working with groups of young women. We created and organized trainings on counteraction to discrimination of young women, on legal education in labor sphere for girls-students of universities. We published hand-books on these issues. So, the project on gender education had quite developed methodological basis, and, moreover, there were enough well-motivated women and girls ready to participate in the project.