AGORA summer camp for young feminists

PRESS RELEASE

August 8, 2022

Community Safety and Mediation Center Foundation (CMSC) in partnership with Romanian Women’s Lobby Association (RoWL), Hedda Association, Bulgarian Platform of European Women's Lobby, The Network of East-West Women (NEWW) și Magyar Nöi Erdekérvényesitö Szövetség/Hungarian Women’s Lobby:

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organizes between August 10-14, 2022, in Suceava county,

the first Young feminist AGORA Summer Camp within the project

‘GLORIA - feminism and strategic approach of gender equality’

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During the 4 days of the camp, we created an inclusive space for women and girls between the ages of 17+ and 30 to exchange experiences, inspire and strengthen knowledge in the area of feminist ABC through practical workshops, new skill development with the aid from partners and project experts. The program uses innovative participatory methodologies based on a transformative learning process that addresses both personal, individual, organizational/societal and system level learning. With this summer camp, we, as non-governmental organizations working with women's and girls' issues, aim to better understand the interests, needs and activities of young feminists in Romania who are volunteers or employed in member organizations of the Romanian Women's Lobby Association (RoWL) and to bring them more into the center of our future strategy and actions.

AGORA derives from the Greek word market / forum, implying the opportunity to have discussions on topics that are often considered controversial within the feminist movement, as well as the place where ideas can be developed about how women and girls can stand in solidarity by making a common front. During the days of the young feminist camp, the 25 participants will bridge the gap between feminism theory and real-life activism by developing practical and strategic skills.

Participants will also gain new perspectives from being part of such a diverse group of young women and girls and make lifelong friends and allies.

Workshops are held with experts on selective topics such as women's political participation in elections, the "Purple Economy", sexuality and bodily autonomy and combating violence against women through the Istanbul Convention. Also, the experts present at the camp will contribute with training sessions to the development of strategic planning and the integration of knowledge on women's rights in the activity of member organizations, they will show how to build proactive, sustainable and regional strategic partnerships.

The project is implemented by Community Safety and Mediation Center Foundation in partnership with the Romanian Women's LOBBY Association, Foreningen HEDDA; Network of East-West Women; Bulgarian Platform of European Women's Lobby; Magyar Női Érdekérvényesítő Szövetség (Hungarian Women's Lobby) and benefits from a 249,943 euros grant from Active Citizens Fund Romania, programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants Grants 2014 -2021. The aim of the project is to support the 21 member NGOs in the Romanian Women's Lobby through organizational development, strengthening the role of monitoring and advocacy regarding women's rights, gender equality and combating gender-based violence in order to achieve a strategic approach, strengthening financial resources and organizational and increasing the capacity to raise public awareness of the problems faced by women beneficiaries of NGO services.

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Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.

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Contact:

Laura Albu,

Executive President of the Community Safety and Mediation Center Foundation

E-mail: lalbu@cmsc.ro