On the 10th of March 2024 part of the Association Lar de Artemis team gathered in order to participate in a workshop about gender inclusion held by our volunteers Aumary and Fatima. The idea of the workshop came to them after participating in the Join Seminar, in The Netherlands, together with other youth workers from 7 other countries.
The objective of the workshop was not only to share what they have learned, but also to increase awareness of gender diversity in the community, to better understand the impact of biases and stereotypes on gender inclusion and to come together with some strategies for creating a more inclusive environment.
The content was structured in various parts: introduction with energizers and questions in order to understand the needs of the youth workers present, such as: “Do you feel included in the community?, “What about in your work and what about the people with whom you are working? What can we do to make you feel more included? Have you ever suffered gender exclusion?”. Based on their answers, we presented a series of activities related to gender stereotypes and how we can address them. As well as how we can face these challenges and make a more gender inclusive association and community.
The format of the workshop included various methods, such as: presentation, role-play scenarios, round table discussions.
The idea of the workshops was inspired by a session about gender inclusion presented by Chiara from the Association Le Tre Ghinee APS who was also present at the Join seminar. Moreover, the International Women’s Day on the 8 of March was also a reason why the two girls wanted to choose this specific topic.
We all know that the understanding of gender has indeed evolved significantly, and many people now recognize that gender exists on a spectrum, encompassing a wide range of identities beyond the traditional binary of male and female. This recognition represents a major step forward in accepting and including individuals who do not fit into traditional gender categories. Therefore, this workshop helped everyone understand a bit better gender inclusion and learn how to create a more gender-inclusive workspace and apply strategies in youth work.