Ekvalis is implementing several youth programs that already had several editions and cohorts of participants. Through our youth programs we have trained, shared knowledge with and equipped with skills, more than 500 young people. Our youth programs are based entirely on the methods of non-formal education, they have a learner centered approach and engage the youth in discussing real current issues that are relevant to them. Ekvalis has also developed numerous outputs and products as part of these programs.
The youth program “What’s Gender Got to Do With It“ enables young people to come together and discuss how gender, gender stigma and gender roles predetermine their life. They collectively try to re-think gender expectations and break negative gender stereotypes. The participants from these programs were engaged with a diverse kind of feminist approaches, they have discussed gender beyond the gender binary, and have practiced building inclusive space and media content for LGBTIQ+ community members. As part of the program the high school newspaper “Rodnakovst“ was created and distributed around 4 high schools. The groups have also produced an online media campaign and they have visited important women’s rights events around the country.
Through our youth programs on active citizenship, Ekvalis enables young people to understand concepts related to activism, youth participation, youth engagement and community actions. We host conceptual events named “Conversation with Activists“, where young people can have dialogue with activists from diverse fields: feminism, ecology, anti-corruption, student protesting, poverty, multiethnicity and other topics. Additionally, we provide movie screening followed up by thematic discussion on movies that feature a socially engaging topic. As part of these programs, young people can attend workshops that can help them improve their skills for community organizing, implementing small-scale grassroots community actions, practice critical thinking and creative activist expression.
The youth program on creative activist interventions, uses the art and the artistic platforms as methods for expressing youth concerns and issues that require attention of the public or institutions. This program uses creative artistic methods such as: Forum Theater (Theater of the Oppressed), Image Theater, Shadow Theater, Activist Choir Singing, Slam Poetry, Zines, Posters and Public Art. Oftentimes these performances or art installations are performed in a public space where they make significant impact among the local community and get a big media attention. The programs are led by experienced youth workers and art/culture workers who can facilitate a learning environment that promotes socially engaged art.
The youth programs on online activism equip young people on how to analyze, fact-check and use media for impacting their local communities and bringing positive changes in the community. As part of the programs, young people were trained on how check information sources and evaluate the source’s credibility. They have been trained on how to use mobile-journalism (MO-JO) and have created their own MO-JO videos, memes, podcasts, interviews, newspapers and media campaigns. The youth programs on online activism are led by media education workers, journalists, online activists and online influencers.
The youth program “What’s Gender Got to Do With It“ enables young people to come together and discuss how gender, gender stigma and gender roles predetermine their life. They collectively try to re-think gender expectations and break negative gender stereotypes. The participants from these programs were engaged with a diverse kind of feminist approaches, they have discussed gender beyond the gender binary, and have practiced building inclusive space and media content for LGBTIQ+ community members. As part of the program the high school newspaper “Rodnakovst“ was created and distributed around 4 high schools. The groups have also produced an online media campaign and they have visited important women’s rights events around the country.
