Here are the feminist events being implemented as a result of our call for initiatives within the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
Feminism Through the Eyes of a Teenager
As part of this project, a group of teenage girls recruited by the Spitak Helsinki Group NGO, with the support of mentors, is conducting an awareness campaign in Spitak. The campaign highlights 16 feminist women who have played a significant role in achieving gender equality and shaping feminist values. This includes an exhibition of posters created by the girls and the dissemination of information about these women on online platforms. The campaign will also feature awareness-raising courses for teenage girls on feminism and gender-based violence.
“Living Without Fear” Documentary Performance
The performance, staged by “Open Platform,” is based on the stories of people living with HIV, drawn from interviews and research. In Living Without Fear, the audience will witness how the fear of living can destroy the individual. The play will be staged free of charge, with open admission, to the general public in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
Empowering Voices Through Art: A Community Mural Against Gender-Based Violence
This project involved the creation of a collaborative mural in the Gavar community, with the participation of local women, survivors of violence, civil society representatives, and community members, aimed at raising awareness about gender-based violence. The project’s main goal was to create a community platform that would unite the voices of women, survivors, and institutional partners in the fight against gender-based violence. The mural serves as a symbol of hope, resilience, and collective action, amplifying the stories of survivors and reinforcing institutional support for the elimination of gender-based violence.
Echo4
Echo4 is an immersive public art installation that revitalizes Shushanik Kurghinyan’s old house, bringing her voice back to the Gyumri community in a way that resonates with contemporary struggles. Aligned with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, “Echo4” stands as a symbol of solidarity for survivors in Gyumri, reminding them that they are not alone and that the community is here to listen and support. By raising awareness of gender-based violence, the installation also brings attention to Kurghinyan’s neglected home and encourages the community and feminist advocates to consider its restoration as a safe and meaningful space for the future.
Events Planned Within the Framework of the Project:
- Film Screening: “Between the Two Sexes”, followed by an online discussion with the director, at the Gyumri Community Resource Center on December 7, from 15:00 to 18:00.
- Exhibition: Art installation near Shushanik Kurghinyan’s house on December 7, from 14:00 to 19:00.
“Fem Fitness”: A Women’s Sports Club for Women’s Equality
The first women’s fitness club, founded by the Berd Women’s Resource Center in the Berd community a few months ago, aims to improve women’s physical and mental health while boosting their self-esteem. However, the initiative faced an immediate challenge: many women in the community were forbidden by their family members, especially their husbands, from attending fitness classes. As part of the grant framework, the Center decided to address these stereotypes by involving men in their events and raising awareness about the importance of women’s physical activity, including its role in cancer prevention. The initiative includes watching a thematic film and creating a video clip that highlights Fem Fitness as the community’s first women’s sports club and discusses stereotypical attitudes and their elimination.
