Gender, Youth and Media
Lack of gender awareness among young people and gender equality in local youth organizations as well as media stereotyped approach to youth in Tuzla is the problem that project aims to address. More than 20 organizations contribute to youth policy development in Tuzla. However, majority of its leaders are young men while girls are not recognized as active contributors.
Local media do not pay enough attention on youth problems and certainly not to gender equality among youngsters, and, on the other hand, local youth organizations do not know how to promote their activities through media.Moreover, there is an evident need for increasing gender awareness among young people and for integrating the aspect of gender equality into development strategies of their organizations, and, finally, for promotion their gender equality based initiatives though the media.
The project expects to result with increased skills and knowledge of 25 young leaders on "Gender, Youth and Media" until November 2009. The outcome of the project will be professionally developed Training manual for youth on "Gender, Youth and Media" which would highlight specific gender issues among young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and their proper presentation in the media (gender role, stereotypes, equality, and such).
The main positive changes will be reflected through increased number of actions undertaken by youth organizations on promotion of gender awareness and gender equality among youth in Tuzla. Their activities will be promoted via local media and trainees will be expected to write essays, articles, produce radio shows and other means and measures in order to promote such activities. Some of their activities will be financially supported by Foundation of Tuzla Community though their project "Youth Bank".
The main goal of the project is to increase number of actions carried out by youth organizations on promotion of gender awareness and gender equality among youth in Tuzla Municipality until November 2009. After training delivery, young trainees will be able to organize events which promote gender equality and raise gender awareness. One of these events will be financially supported by Youth Bank (Foundation of Tuzla Community) while others will be organized as debates in youth organizations. Trainees will be obliged to organize the promotion of these events through local media. Using Vesta Radio, trainees will initiate debates about certain issues related to gender and youth, and challenge community to talk about gender stereotypes and gender roles. Support will be given by REVOLT representative, who already has her radio show on Vesta Radio waves. Other local media will be invited to support these activities.
Vesta will work with local youth organizations, faith based organizations, organizations of youth with disabilities and media representatives. They will get an opportunity to attend training "Gender, Youth and Media" and to organize various events and debates about gender equality among youth at the latest phase of project.
Key partners in project are youth organization REVOLT and Foundation of Tuzla Community.
Project foreseen the development of Training for Trainers Manual and training delivery for community based youth groups. Therefore, the following activities will take place:
- Analyze of existing programs, policies and training manuals for gender equality among youth
- Brainstorming session of youth, civic educators, community opinion leaders, youth organizations, faith based organization, vulnerable youth group, Roma associations and local gender mechanisms to discuss frame for a training manual
- Development of Training for Trainers Manual "Gender, Youth and Media"
- Delivery of Training for Trainers for community based youth groups in Tuzla
- Practical exercises of newly adopted knowledge through event management and media broadcast which challenge topics about gender equality, gender stereotypes and gender roles
Project team will monitor young leaders' activities and evaluate their improvements during October and November 2009. These activities might lead to sustainable platform for an ongoing discussion on gender equality among youth. Vesta Radio offers its program to these young leaders and supports establishment of youth community dialogue groups on gender awareness. It is extremely important to reach marginalized and vulnerable youth in community to debate on gender issues and sometime it is only possible through media.
