Cross-bordered Gathering: Encounter of German-Greek Female Adolescents
Cross-Border Youth Projects Empower Girls and Combat Gender Inequality
Wiesbaden, Germany — A cross-border project titled "Women in Leadership and Liberation" (WILL) is making strides in combating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and gender-based violence (GBV) in The Gambia. Funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the initiative brings together immigration officers, police, State Intelligence Services, and civil society representatives operating in border communities.
The project, which empowers 60 stakeholders with knowledge of legal frameworks and the need for cross-border collaboration, particularly with Senegal, aims to challenge harmful gender stereotypes and practices.
Similarly, other youth-led initiatives emphasize gender inclusivity, particularly involving young women in leadership roles. Projects coordinated by Saferworld and Youth Without Borders Organization for Development (YWBOD) focus on peacebuilding and community engagement, addressing barriers faced by young women due to traditional gender norms and empowering youth at the grassroots level.
Funding for such cross-border youth projects comes from various sources. Apart from UNFPA and Italian Agency support in the WILL project, other initiatives receive backing from organizations such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Mastercard Foundation, notably in women and youth economic empowerment sectors like fisheries. The European Union also funds projects aimed at improving gender awareness and feminist education, although specifics on youth components were not detailed in the retrieved results.
In Wiesbaden, Germany, a notable project called "Wilhelm-Heinrich-von-Riehl School's support association and Filoxenia initiative" is part of "Wiesbaden International," an initiative of the state capital Wiesbaden to promote international youth and expert encounters. The project encourages girls to think beyond borders, ask questions, and take a stand, as emphasized by Dr. Patricia Becher, Social Affairs Commissioner.
The encounter, the result of close cooperation between the Wilhelm-Heinrich-von-Riehl School's support association and the Greek partner organization Filoxenia, focused on workshops on gender roles and stereotypes, joint creative projects, and excursions that offered opportunities for exchange and new perspectives. The official event ended with a group photo and the ceremonial presentation of participation certificates.
Both partners in the project are committed to issues such as equality, environmental issues, and remembrance work. The Press Office of the state capital Wiesbaden's contact information is Schlossplatz 6, 65183 Wiesbaden, and their website can be found at https://www.wiesbaden.de/pressereferat.
The Press Office of the state capital Wiesbaden published this press release. Citizens can contact the responsible department or office of the state capital Wiesbaden with any questions. For more information on cross-border youth projects and their impact, further research is encouraged.
*References
- UNFPA - Women in Liberation and Leadership (WILL) Project
- Saferworld - YWBOD Partnership
- Mastercard Foundation - Women's Economic Empowerment
- EU Funding for Gender Awareness and Feminist Education
- The "Wilhelm-Heinrich-von-Riehl School's support association and Filoxenia initiative," a cross-border project in Wiesbaden, Germany, focuses on empowering girls by encouraging them to question traditional gender roles and stereotypes, aligning with education-and-self-development efforts.
- Furthermore, other cross-border projects, such as the UNFPA's "Women in Leadership and Liberation" (WILL) project and initiatives coordinated by Saferworld and the Youth Without Borders Organization for Development (YWBOD), aim to challenge gender stereotypes and practices, contributing to lifestyle transformations and general-news headlines in global communities.
